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BATTLE MONUMENT 
Spottsylvania, Va. 



fiOD fi. C. Lodge 
awxe 16 06 



PREFACE 

Comrades: 

The committee desire to thank the comrades and friends who so generously 
contributed, making it possible to erect the beautiful monument which now 
stands on the Harris farm, the field of May 19, 1864. 

"The day in June" is an exact description of May 19, '64. 

"The nameless Graves" by Genl. DePeyster is appropriate. 

Genl's Grant and Meade were at Army Headquarters during the fight. 
The 7th and 8th N. Y. H. Art. were in reserve between Army Hdqrts. and 
the front line (held by the ist Me. and the ist Mass.) and did not go into 
the fight until after the arrival of the men of the 2d and 5th Corps. 

E well's Corps contained about 9000 men in three Divisions and were march- 
ing by the left flank toward Fredericksburg, Genl. J. B. Gordon in advance, 
Genl. Rodes in the centre, followed by Genl. Hoke. The heaviest of the 
battle was between Genl. Gordon's Div. facing the ist Me. and Genl. Rt)des 
Div. facing the ist Mass. Genl. Kitchings Brigade on our left (6th and 15th 
N. Y. H. Art.) were engaged with Hokes Div. aitd lost heavily. 

Genl. Wade Hampton in command of a Div. of Cavalry moved around 
our right flank entering Fredericksburg'. 

The report of Genl. Ramsem's report is correct in the main, and I wish to 
place on record here, that the three charges made by his gallant troops will 
never be forgotten, the conditions which they met each time they appeared 
in the open were fearful and deadly, and the second and third charges over 
the same ground were persistent and to them most destructive. 

The casualities in Tyler's Div. were about 1300, killed, wounded and 
missing, of which 527 were from the ist Maine and 398 from the ist Mass. — 
Genl. Ewell placed his loss at about 900, it must have been more, for the 
burial parties found as many of ihe Gray as the Blue, — A few of those who 
wore the Blue were recognized and the rude headstones of pieces of board, 
tin plate or dipper, the name scratched thereon with a sharp point was the 
best that could be done. They were laid away in long trenches near where 
they fell, many of the boys in Blue sleep near our monument, and all of 
those in Gray are unmarked. 

To those who are "lost and nameless" both of the Blue and the Gray, — 
Americans all — I most tenderly dedicate this souvenir. 

JOS. W. GARDNER, 

Secretary. 




OUR OLD COMMANDER, 
COL. NATH L SHATSWELL. 



^' A MOST BEAUTIFUL DAY/^ 

SPOTTSVI.VAXIA, VA. 

May 19, 1864. 

And what is so rare as a day in June ? 

Then, if ever, come perfect days ; 

Then heaven tries the earth if it be in tune. 

And over it softly her warm ear lays ; 

Whether we look or whether we listen, 

We hear life murmur, or see it glisten ; 

Every clod feels a stir of might, 

An instinct within it that reaches and towers, 

And, groping blindly above it for light, 

Climbs to a soul in grass and flowers ; 

The flush of life may well be seen 

Thrilling back over hills and valleys ; 

The cowslip startles in meadows green. 

The buttercup catches the sun in its chalice ; 

And there's never a leaf or a blade too mean 

To be some happy creature's palace ; 

The little bird sits at his door in the sun, 

Atilt like a blossom among the lea\-es, 

And lets his illumined being o'errun 

With the deluge of summer it receives ; 

His mate feels the eggs beneath her wings, 

And the heart in her dumb breast flutters and sings. 

He sings to the wide world, and she to her nest — 

In the nice ear of Nature, which song is tlie best? 

B\' Ia.mi'.s RrssKi.i. Lowei.i.. 



THE NAMELESS GRAVES. 



The stalwart and gentle, the old and the young, 

The colonel with words of command on his tongue, 
The private who lingered to cheer her who clung 

About him her lord and her lover ; 
The hope of the cottage, the pride of the hall, 

The stay of the widow, her only and all, 
Now sleep with the soil of the South for a pall, 

The sod of the South for a cover, 
In groves of dark pine where the twilight is dim, 

Where shadows like spirit forms circle and swim. 
And voices from somewhere seem chanting a hymn. 

Our heroes and brothers are lying. 
And as you bring blossoms to cover your brave 

Who peacefully sleep where the evergreens wave. 
Pray that the wild flowers may grow on the grave 

Where the tenant is lost and is nameless — . 

By J. Watts De Peyster. 
June 1883. 



Boston, ^Ia\- 13, 1901. 

Dear Comrades: — At last conies the day for the departure of 
the First JMassachnsetts Heavy Artillery Association and its 
friends for the ever sacred soil of Old Virginia, with the pur- 
pose in view of visiting the old battlefields and the dedication of 
a monument to the memory of the many brave comrades who 
sleep in unmarked graves. The forenoon has been dull and 
rainy, but shortly after i p. m. the skies clear away and the sun 
gives forth her approving presence to cheer us on. The com- 
rades begin to arrive and we miss many whom we had hoped 
would be of the party; the ladies, in particular, were not so 
many as we had anticipated, but we need not here say that 
though the number was small the cjuality was first-class. It 
was near 4 p. m. when Capt. March of the good S. S. Nantucket 
of the Merchants & Miners Line pulled gently away from the 
wharf. As we moved down the harbor, there rang out on the 
clear air the bugle calls from Comrade Bradley's bugle, the 
same old bugle and the same old boy to blow it who sent us in 
to the deadly charge of May 19, 1864. Its tone and music sent 
the mind back many a year to the days of the cruel war. We 
immediately set about making acquaintance with those of the 
party who did not belong to the Regiment, and soon succeeded 
in making all feel "at home," everybody falling into the sociable 
mood at once. At about 8 p. m. we sat down to a fine dinner. 
At near its close the vote was taken by members of the Regi- 
ment, and each excursionist was made an honorary member of 
the Regiment during the trip. 

In looking over the S. S. Nantucket, we find her a floating- 
palace; all the appointments are first-class; everything in order 
to secure the comfort and convenience of her patrons: and in 
command one of the finest of the old school gentlemen. Capt. 
^farch. Our first meal was a sample of what we were to expect 
from his able and attentive steward, and it was most excellent. 

After leaving Highland Light, our course was around Cape 
Cod, inside of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, passing near 
to Gay's Head on our left and near Block Island on our right. 



Leaving Montauk Point on our right, our course is direct for 
Cape Charles, the southern point of Maryland, at the entrance 
of Chesapeake Bay. 

Even before reaching Highland Light, it was evident that 
old ocean was in a careless mood. Although she looked calm 
and placid, her intentions were not favorable to us. We were 
to be treated to the "long roll," which, I am informed, is the 
most tedious condition for a fresh water sailor. After the din- 
ner, many sought their staterooms, some for sleep and others — 
well, to make themselves more comfortable. During the night 
there were many strange noises, and in the morning there ap- 
peared the usual group of old-fashioned, pale-faced liars. Had 
G. W. been with us, I think he would have joined the crowd 
and broke over just once. All were in good spirits, many hav- 
ing seen Fire Island Light, which we passed 200 miles to the 
right of us about 2 a. m. 

After a splendid breakfast, we began to feel more at home on 
the boat, and although we still were favored with the long roll, 
the most of us had added our "little bit" to swell the tide and 
were now quite tidy seamen. We are passing the day making 
ourselves acquainted with new-found friends, who are to be our 
companions for the next ten days, and as we meet one after 
another we are more than proud of the elegant character of our 
excursion. It could not have been a cleaner and better party. 
The gents' smoking room is well patronized, and a few are en- 
joying themselves at cards; but the little parties of half a dozen 
who are chatting together seem to enjoy themselves as well as 
possible, if the merry laugh is to be taken into consideration. 
Well, at about 2 p. m. our good Captain became sick of the 
long roll, and he told your humble servant that he was going to 
run a little way out to sea, which I think he did, for in half an 
hour we were in water as smooth and quiet as one of our New 
England ponds — and so it remained during the rest of the 
voyage. 

We passed Cape Charles Lightship about 2 a. m. of the 15th, 
and at 3.30 a. m. were off Cape Charles, the southern extremity 
of Maryland. We were soon in Chesapeake Bay. Many of the 
party were on deck, and the Reveille from the bugle called the 
balance. All were well repaid for the early call. Just about 
sunrise we passed Old Point Comfort and Fortress Monroe 
on our right, and the Rip-Raps on the left, and around the 
point into Norfolk — passing the beautiful grounds of the Marine 



Hospital on our right. After a most elegant breakfast on the 
boat, everybody was ready, and in a short time all were on the 
dock. Three hearty cheers were given for the S. S. Nantucket, 
Capt. March and the steward, and pinning" a white badge 
on each, invited them to join us at any point of the excursion. 
The order was to look after your own baggage and go as you 
please to the depot to take the train for Petersburg at 9.35. 
Electrics were plenty and carried us direct to depot. 

The ride from Xorfolk to Petersburg was through the Dismal 
swamp for a long distance, and occupied nearly two hours. This 
part of the State has not improved much in appearance during 
the last forty years. 

Arriving in Petersburg about 11.30 a. m., the ladies went im- 
mediately to Hotel Imperial, were assigned rooms, and were 
soon comfortably located. 

[^Frofii (he Petersburg Daily Appeal. '\ 

The First MassachuseUs Heavy Artillery Association, in charge of 
Colonel John W. Hart, of Salem, Mass., who are on a visit to Washing- 
ton and the battlefields of Virginia, arrived from Norfolk on the "Ocean 
limited" train, and were met at the depot by A. P. Hill Camp of Con- 
federate Veterans, about nfty-five strong, under the command of Com- 
mander Wm. E. Harwood. The camp, headed by its fine drum corps, 
marched from its hall on Tabb street to the depot, and attracted much 
attention as it paraded through the streets. On arriving at the railway 
station the "Vets" were formed in line on the platform, and as the train 
pulled into the station gave the visitors a hearty rebel yell. After alight- 
ing from the cars the visiting veterans formed in line and, preceded b> 
A. P. Hill Camp, marched to the hall of the latter, where they were 
welcomed on the part of the camp by Commander Harwood. who spoke 
as follows: 

As commander of A. P. Hill Camp of Confederate Veterans of 
Petersburg, gentlemen of the "Old Bay State," on behaU' of the Camp, 
I extend to you a hearty welcome to our hall. 

We welcome you as citizens of a grand old Commonwealth, honored 
and respected by our fellows. We welcome you as veterans of the 
greatest struggle of modern times, who, from a firm conviction of right, 
and a noble sense of duty, offered your lives upon the field of battle in 
defence of principles, and proved yourselves "foemcn worthy of our 
steel." 

Brave men will always honor and respect brave men. Men may differ 
upon questions as to the constitutionalit}' of laws, but who will doubt 
their fidelity to their cause, or their heroic deeds during those "heroic 
days" of '61 and '65, when "life was counted but a worthless thing, where 
honor was at stake," of either the men who wore the Blue or the men 



who wore the Gray, and b.v their deeds showed the world the valor of 
true American manhood? 

You gentlemen have your memories of the past; we have ours — 
"Memories wreathed with honor and immortal fame" — a common herit- 
age of a brave and patriotic people. 

And when the end came, after four years of arduous struggle, when 
forced to yield to overwhelming numbers, the noble conduct of your 
great Commander, more magnanimous than Washington to a fallen foe, 
will ever be held in grateful remembrance by the ragged veterans who 
followed the fortunes of our great Southern Chieftain, who is today "the 
idol of the South and the admiration of a reunited country." 

When the Confederate soldier laid down his arms at Appomattox and 
furled that ilag which he had followed for four long years with pride 
and honor, and renewed his allegiance to his country, then and there 
the war ended. How well he has kept his oath, the Spanish-American 
war will forever silence all cavil and doubt. 

As an object lesson, there hangs upon yonder wall a picture of a gal- 
lant youth, born and reared in this old Cockade City, a member of this 
camp, who in the vigor of early manhood carried the flag of his regi- 
ment from the Bloody Angle of Spottsylvania to the burning brink of 
yonder Crater. Though ripe in years and full of military glory and civic 
honors, yet at his country's call he ofifered his sword and died at the head 
of his regiment upon the firing line in far away Manila, as true and as 
faithful to the "Stars and Stripes" as he had been true and faithful to the 
"Stars and Bars." 

And, today, there is a noble youth, a native of this old town, the son 
of the first commander of our camp, who is bearing aloft his country's 
cause upon his sword in that far distant isle. 

Sirs', that "Starry Banner" that symbolizes the indestructibility of the 
American Union and the majesty of American citizenship to us all, is as 
safe today in the hands of the old Confederate soldiers and their scions 
as it is beneath the shadow of your own Bunker Hill. 

Gentlemen, again I extend to you a cordial welcome to our hall. 

I now have the honor of introducing to you the Chief Executive of 
Petersburg, the Hon. J. M. Pleasants, who will extend to you the free- 
dom of the city. 

Mayor Pleasants spoke as follows: 
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the First Massachusetts Heavy Artil- 
lery: 

If I might judge from the friendly greetings you have already re- 
ceived, and those you are yet to receive, the cordiality of which is at- 
tested by this large presence, I would say that no formal welcome to 
our city is needed to make you feel that you are at home and among 
friends. 

But occasions of this kind, so productive of good feeling, are of more 
than ordinary interest and significance. We find here assembled in 
friendly intercourse representatives of two sections of our beloved 
country, once arrayed in deadly hostility and swayed by bitter enmities. 



6 



We find them meeting together today on the basis of mutual respect 
and esteem, exchanging the handgrasps of cordial friendship, forgetting 
past prejudices and feeling that we are all in reality citizens and brothers 
in common of a country whose welfare and whose glory we have equally 
at heart. 

On such occasions, therefore, we throw cold formality aside and with 
one accord, with open hearts and hands, bid you a sincere and cordial 
welcome to Petersburg, and to the unrestricted freedom of the city. 

Comparatively speaking, Petersburg is a small city, occupying but a 
tiny dot on some of the maps, and on others not appearing at all, but it 
has a noble record, and has played an important part in the history of 
our country. Grandly historic in itself, it is the centre of a great section 
whose history and whose legends come down to us from the earliest 
colonial days, .'^roiuid it in every direction, and for miles away, every 
foot of soil has felt the tread of contending armies, and has been made 
sacred by the blood of patriots and heroes. 

It is a city ol martial fame. Its earliest settlement was forced, as it 
were, in the face of Indian massacres. In every war in whicli this 
countr)-- has been engaged, from the Revolution down to the present, its 
sons have been in the fore-front of battle. Their conspicuous gallantry 
and indomitable courage in the war of 1812, and especially in the decisive 
battle of Fort Meigs, in 1813, won for their city, from the lips of Presi- 
dent Madison, the proud emblem of heraldry which it bears untarnished 
today. "The Cockade City of the Union." 

But turning from the past to the present, gentlemen, we welcome you 
today to a city of peaceful pursuits, to a quiet, orderly and business 
community, .glorjnng in its many churches, it splendid system of 
schools, in the culture and refinement of its people, the true nobility, 
gentleness and beauty of its women, and the patriotism, chivalry and 
manliness of its men. 

Here we bid you be at ease. May your going and coming among us 
be altogether pleasant, and when your visit in Virginia is ended and you 
return to your homes, may you bear with you kindly reminiscences of 
our city and its people. 

Again, gentlemen, I extend to you a cordial welcome to Petcrsl>urg. 

Colonel J. W. Hart followed Mayor Pleasants. He thanked both 
Commander Harwood and the Mayor for their very pleasant remarks. 
It was a great pleasure to them to visit Petersburg. Colonel Hart said 
he was no speech-maker, but he could thank the camp for the members 
of his association lor the very handsome manner in which they had 
been received. He was no stranger in Petersburg. Colonel Hart then 
introduced Colonel J. Payson Bradley, of Boston, who, he said, was 
the youngest member of the regiment, and that he would speak for 
Massachusetts. 

Colonel Bradley, who was the bugler of the regiment during the war 
between the States, spoke as follows: 

Mr. Chairman. Your Honor, the Mayor, and Commander of A. P. Hill 
Camp: This is an unexpected order, as I sui)posed that sounding the 



march on this bugle from the station to this hall was all that I should 
be called upon to perform, but I should be recreant to Massachusetts 
did I not respond like the minute-men of Lexington who were called 
upon without a moment's notice to obey orders. Colonel Hart has 
stated that the youngest member of the regiment would speak for Massa- 
chusetts, and I am proud to respond in behalf of the old Commonwealth, 
especially while standing here on the sacred soil of "old Virginia," for 
you gave us Washington, who, in Massachusetts, took command of the 
Continental army under the Old Elm in Cambridge. We have our Lex- 
ington, Concord and Bunker Hill, the beginning of that strife which 
was closed at your Yorktown, and gave to us a nation which shall exist 
so long as your children, and our children and children's children shall 
live and keep in memory the principles on which this nation was 
founded. Mr. Mayor, we came here as a regiment thirty-seven years 
ago, and I can only say that at that time your rejection of us was as 
warm as your reception is today. It is a fact that a few of us you did 
take in, but the majority still remained without, knocking at your door 
for admittance, and this old bugle whose sounds you have heard today 
was heard along the lines morning and night calling our boys together 
and holding them up to their work of gaining admission, even if we 
were not invited. 

Mr. Commander, we are glad to be with you today, and to receive 
from you, Mr. Mayor, this warm expression of your good will towards 
us. I must admit that we are proud of our old regiment, but we are 
more proud of our old Commonwealth which we today represent; yea, 
and we are also proud of "old Virginia," who, with the old Common- 
wealth of Massachusetts, were the founders of this republic. But above 
them all we are, and you are, supremely proud of this glorious American 
nation of which all of us are a part. 

At the close of Colonel Bradley's address the visitors were invited by 
Commander Harwood into an ante-room, to partake of some refresh- 
ments which had been prepared for them, and which they seemed to 
enjoy, their appetites having become sharpened by the trip from Nor- 
folk. After the refreshments had been partaken of and some little 
time spent ni forming acquaintances and talking over old war times, the 
visitors were escorted by the camp to the Imperial Hotel, where the 
Association will be quartered during their stay here. 

The following gentlemen compose the committee in charge: Colonel 
John W. Hart, Salem, Mass.; J. Payson Bradley, Peter D. Smith, George 
W. Lewis, O. W. Norcross and E. A. Chandler. 

Last night a campfire was kindled at the hall of A. P. Hill Camp, 
with Colonel J. W. Hart in the chair. The attendance was so large that 
the room was filled, and the evening was most pleasantly spent. Inter- 
esting war stories were told by the comrades who wore the Blue and 
Gray, and some )f them provoked much laughter. After the singing of 
■'America," the meeting adjourned. 

After the recejjtion was over, the Camp escorted the boys to 

8 



the Hotel Imperial, and in the evening- nearly all attended the 
campfire. The meeting- was full of sociability and good fel- 
lowship. Comrade Hart was in the chair and called upon Con- 
federate and Federal alternately. In the last speech of the 
evening, Com. Bradley was in excellent form — his main point 
that today we; should all stand together as Americans. After 
an hour or two of social meetings outside the hall, in small par- 
ties, the boys sought the rest which all knew we needed for the 
morrow. At an early sunrise the Reveille rang out strong and 
clear, and after a good breakfast, about 8.30 the carriages began 
to arrive in which Guide Clark was to take us over the old 
works of '64 — and at 9 a. m. the procession started in all kinds 
of vehicles. We went over the ground which was occupied by 
the Confederate forces. It was some time before we could lo- 
cate ourselves, but after reaching the vicinity of the Hare house 
the ground began to look natural. 

I have not the space here to give any detailed account of this 
most pleasant and interesting ride. The Bryant house, where 
we arrived Jime 15, 1864, at 6 p. m., and from which we made 
that most desperate and bloody charge on the afternoon of the 
i6th; the race-track, where we gave the enemy the surprise and 
chase the morning of the i8th; the monument of the ist Maine, 
where so many men were lost in a few moments the afternoon 
of the i8th; the spot where brave Capt. Kimball fell, June 22, 
when the most of our remaining comrades were made prisoners, 
are all matters of which much could be written. The recollec- 
tions of the strength and courage of youth are strongly inter- 
spersed with the thoughts of blood and sacrifice of those who 
now sleep in nameless graves, and there are many of them 
around this old city. Hatcher's and Duncan's runs and the Crater 
are also visited. We arrive at hotel at 2 ]:». ni., having been on 
the road five hours. We are ready for a solid meal, and the 
landlord does his best. It is \\ith a sigh of regret that we leave 
this beautiful city (so hard to enter in the 6o's) where we have 
passed over 30 hours of the most pleasant social entertainment. 
We shall always remember the warm reception given us bv the 
A. P. Hill Camp, the Mayor and citizens generally. May the old 
Cockade City always prosper and retain a front place in the 
march of progress! 

We are given a special car by the Norfolk & Western R. R., 
and at 7.30 (35 minutes late) start for Richmond. Arriving in 
Richmond, we proceed to Ford's New Hotel, and after the as- 

9 



signment of rooms, we have a good supper. There is a State 
Convention being held in the city and the host found it difftcult 
to accommodate us as he would wish, but we assure him that w^e 
found everything- comfortable at Ford's New Hotel. We estab- 
lished Headquarters in one corner of the large office, and made 
ourselves at home, and we were welcome. Although we had no 
public reception in Richmond, the greetings were warm and 
friendly. • The Robert E. Tee Camp gave us an invitation to 
use their quarters all we could during our stay, and the most 
of our party visited and placed their names on their record 
book. 

Capitol Square, just south of the hotel, includes the Capitol 
building, Governor's mansion, statues of Washington, Clay and 
Stonewall Jackson; State Tibrary, old Bell house; in the Capi- 
tol, statue of Washington, bust of Lafayette. From the dome is 
a beautiful view of the city. Hollywood Cemetery is a most 
beautiful spot; an elegant Confederate monument stands here 
and recites the gratitude of the Southern people to the mem- 
ory of their gallant dead. Here are the graves of Presidents 
Monroe and Tyler, Tef¥erson Davis, Gen. J. E. R. Stuart, Gen. 
G. E. Pickett and John Randolph of Roanoke. The National 
and Oakwood cemeteries are both full of the graves of men 
prominent, and are beautifully located. 

The electric car service of the city is most complete. Visitors 
can land in almost any spot they desire. The city is rich in 
monuments — the Soldiers and Sailors', R. E. Tee, J. Davis, 
A. P. tlill. Howitzer and Wickham; the Soldiers' Home (Confed- 
erate) ; Jefferson Davis mansion (Confederate Museum) ; Belle 
Isle; the site of Libby Prison; Castle Thunder, Monroe Park, 
and many other places of interest, were visited by our party. 
The citizens of Richmond were sad over the loss by fire of their 
most elegant hotel, the "Jefiferson," located in the heart of the 
city. This was without doubt one of the best in the country, 
and its loss is keenly felt by all classes. Com. Gibson and wife 
joined the party here. To say that all enjoyed the 25 hours in 
Richmond is needless. Tt was a day of "go as you please" and 
"come when you like." It was crowding too much into a few 
hours; in order to do the rounds in the city of Richmond, two 
weeks would be surely needed. The same good feeling existed 
here that we found in Petersburg, and every one we met seemed 
to be glad to see us. At the station we found another and a 
grand improvement; the railroad had placed at our disposal one 

10 



of its ]ar<Tost aiul most elegant cars, large enough to hold all 
our party and the baggage. This car was comfortable indeed, 
and we were to occupy it during the balance of our trip. 

From Richmond to Fredericksburg is about two hours' ride. 
We arrived in F. about lo p. m. (Friday). Here we met some 
old familiar faces — Col. Shatswell and wife, Peter D. Smith, wife 
and two daughters. Coms. Bartlett, Burrows, Thos. J. Putnam, 
Jerry ]•". Donovan and Len Stoddard swelling our party to 66. 
Although the landlord of the Exchange Hotel had contracted 
to put us in rooms, he had failed to make the proper arrange- 
ments, and many of the comrades were assigned with four and 
five in a room. At last, about midnight, all were comfortably 
located, many at private residences. Saturday morning, bright 
and earl}-, the old bugle rang out a Reveille which must have 
put the old residents in mind of the old times. After breakfast, 
many started out to ride. There are no trolley cars in F., and 
teams were in demand. Tt was for some of us a season of rest, 
to be ready for the rough trip of next day. In front of the 
hotel is a plank platform. Chairs were taken out and we there 
met many an old-timer who told stories of love and war. 1 was 
much interested in Uncle Jack Hayden, who was Lee's favorite 
scout during the war. It was he who led Jackson around Hook- 
er's right at Chancellorsville, who, falling on the nth Corps un- 
ex])ectedly, created that great disaster; and he also led Hamp- 
ton into Fredericksburg, May 19, 1864, passing between the 
right of Tyler's Division of Heavy Artillery and Ferrero's Di- 
vision of the 9th Corps at Salem Church, on the Orange County 
road. 

During tiie day \\ c were entertained by coon dancing in front 
of the hotel. In the evening we have a musicale and a bit of 
dancing. Many of the citizens called in the evening, and socia- 
bility was entered into in real earnest. At 12 midnight all was 
quiet and nearly all had retired. 

Sunday a. m.. May k;. Reveille at 8 a. m. The carriages 
which were to take us to Harris Farm began to arrive; all sorts 
of vehicles: the fare was $1.50 for each person. The road Syi 
miles from Fredericksburg to Harris Farm is typical Virginian 
and must in wet weather be almost impassable, the traveled 
path running from one side to the other, with traces of deep 
mud outside the traveled rut. Comrade Gibson could make a 
contract for the transportation of the nionument only in the 
event of dry weather. Clouds had been hanging in the sky all 

11 



the morning and rain was expected every moment; ii o'clock 
came and the party were all at the monument, which was draped 
with a beautiful American flag-. The old boys spent half an hour 
wandering over the old field between the nuMiument and Alsop 
house. 

To Mr. Thos. H. Harris the association is indebted for the 
beautiful plot of ground upon which the monument rests. It is 
his contribution to the memory of the brave men who fell on the 
farm . 

\Ex tract from letier of T. H. Harris. ^^ 

Harris Farm, or Bloomshury, is an old Virginian homestead of 400 
acres — well watered and rolling land — located directly on the main road 
from Fredericksburg (nine miles), and three miles farther on is the county 
seat of Spottsylvania was purchased in 1855 of Wm. P. Robinson by C. M. 
Harris, who owned and occupied until his death in 1867, leaving four child- 
ren (and his widow, who died in 1869). Thomas H. Harris the eldest — and 
who now owns the old homestead — well remembers the hospital scenes of 
1864 and the many wounded men who were brought there during the many 
days of hard fighting around Spottsylvania and the Bloody Angle, and from 
a cherry tree in the garden he watched the engagement of Ewell and the first 
Mass. H. A. until the fighting moved close enough to the dwelling house to 
compel him, with his mother and brother and sisters, to take refuge in the 
basement. 

\_Fro>ji the Richmond News.'l 

Where winds a peaceful pasture lane along the borders of a wood, on 
what is called the Harris farm, some nine miles from Fredericksburg, 
the veterans of the First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery yesterday un.. 
veiled a monument to the comrades who fell, May 19, 1864, in one of 
the most fiercely contested of the series of engagements constituting 
the battle of Spottsylvania Court House. 

To the stubbornness of the resistance offered by the regiment to a 
Mank movement made by Ewell's Corps, designed to cut Grant's line of 
communication and capture his valuable wagon train, a brave enemy 
gave unstinted word of praise. 

Where thirty-seven years ago the rattle of musketry, the thunder of 
cannon, the crash of bursting shell distraught the atmosphere and 
drowned the agonizing cry of wounded men and the fiendish yell of 
charging soldiers; where earth reeked red and battle-ground confusion 
reigned, the boys who had worn the Blue were welcomed yesterday by 
the boys, boys no longer save in memory, who wore the Gray, and the 
Sabljath stillness gave echo only to the assembly call of the bugle notes 
and once more the reveille. And there were men present yesterday, 
men who from the ranks of both the opposing forces had heard that 
same bugle blown by the self-same bugler, the youngest lad then in the 
regiment, ring forth in startled tones the flourishes that called to battle 
and the clarion "Forward!" command. 

12 





COMRADE JOHN W. HART. 
Chairman Monument Committee. 



SERGT. C. B. WATSON. 
Co. K 45th N. C. Regt. C. S. A. 





COMRADE PETER D. SMITH. 
Acting President of Assn. 



COMRADE 0. W. NORCROSS. 
Member of Monument Com. 



The Massachusetts party, which passed through Ricliniond, Friday, en 
route to Fredericksburg, numbered fifty-four, including several ladies, 
when it sailed from Boston for Norfolk, but it had been augmented 
yesterday by arrivals from Washington and other cities till the Exchange 
Hotel was sore pressed for room, and it was with a matter of no small 
diplomacy that mine host, John Ultz, had to contend in assigning three 
and four to a rocnn and obtaining accommodations without the hostelry. 
They had, liowexcr. enjoyed immensely their visits to Petersburg and 
Richmond, and no little inconvenience of this sort was permitted by the 
visitors to mar the pleasure of the trip. 

Old Confederate soldiers showed them about the town, the National 
cemetery and Marye's Heights, where General Daniel S. Butterfield. last 
year, erected a monument to the men he had commanded. 

There was an impromptu dance in the hotel Saturday night, and no 
dearth of entertainment by dancing dai-kies and singing "coons" with 
an eye to business. 

It required some thirty vehicle? yesterday morning to take all wiio 
wished to go to the Harris farm, and many more teams from the sur- 
rounding country doubled the company attending the unveiling cere- 
monies. 

Five Confederate veterans of Alaury Camp were present, the only ones 
in uniform. They were Commander Tliomas V. Proctor, Lieutenant- 
Commander J. W. Smith, Adjutant R. C. Hart, Orderly Sergeant 
George W. Hicks, and Lieutenant-Commander Reuben ATcGee. who 
was lieutenant-colonel of the Thirtieth Virginia Infantry. 

Another Confederate veteran who was there, and who was there thirty- 
seven years before, was C. B. Watson, of Winston, N. C, who was ser- 
geant in Company K, Forty-fifth North Carolina Infantry. 

It is said no skirmishers were sent out preliminary to the battle of 
Harris farm. The attack was sudden and unexpected. Not so yester- 
day. Every one of the vets made himself a skirmisher. There was 
Colonel Shatswell, to whom the command of the regiment fell during 
the battle. Shot in the head, he had his wound bandaged and remained 
at the head of his men. He pointed out the spot which he had reached 
when a bullet found him. 

The party passed over the fields and through the woods. They counted 
the rings on tree stumps to see if they had been growing things on the 
day memorable to them. There was the same rolling land and a small 
stream, but paths and fence lines were changed and trees were cut where 
once were woods and a new growth now had sprung up to confound 
them. Still locations were generally satisfactorily established. Reaching 
the Alsop house, now that of Enoch Lowry. the visitors came upon 
Mr. Watson, and an exchange of notes followed. 

"Colonel Samuel H. Boyd was killed in that little ravine down there," 
said Mr. Watson. 

"Yes," added P. H. O'Connell. Company E, First Massachusetts, now 
a stove dealer in Danvers, "and there is where my captain, Thompson, 
fell. I pulled him out of the I)rook. He died in the ambulance going to 



13 



the hospital." Afr. O'Conncll was four times captured during the war. 
He escaped three times and has written a book about it. 

"You remember your yell coming up that hill?" asked Mr. Watson. 
"It was 'Pluzzah! huzzah! huzzah!' and ours was one we used as boys 
chasing the fox: 'W-h-o-i! w-h-o-i! w-h-o-i!'" 

P. D. Smith, of Andover, lieutenant in the First Massachusetts. 
pointed out the spot where he had received a bullet. Just then a little 
urchin came along. 

"Want to buy bullets?" — a query that greeted the veterans much of 
the day. He pointed out the difference between the Union and Con- 
federate bullets, the former being circled by three rings, the latter by 
two. The urchin found ready customers. 

Major George A. Bartlett, who is now a disbursing officer of the 
United .States Treasury Department, recognized some bullets similar to 
one he had taken oft" the field with him in some part of his anatomy 
after his brother had been carried ofT dangerously wounded. "Len"' 
Stoddard told how the Major's brother was brought to his home in 
Washington, and that his own brother was said to have been the first 
man killed. 

Glass McNair, another of the party, who lost a leg at Cedar Creek, 
was in the valley campaign under Sheridan, and was wounded on the 
day of the famous ride. He was in the Sixth New York Artillery, in 
Kitching's Brigade, on the extreme left, when on the night of May ig, 
1S64, the Confederate movement was repulsed. 

Thomas H. Harris, who owns the Harris farm, was ten years old when 
the battle was fought, and his father's house was turned into a hospital. 
With his help the visitors unraveled the geography of the place and 
Colonel Shatswell showed them where Major Rolfe's horse emerged 
from the woods, riderless, leaving him in command. Rolfe had gone 
first into the woods with three companies and been suddenly confronted 
with a face to face fire from Confederates who numbered a whole 
division. 

A FAMOUS BUGLE. 

The morning had half passed when Comrade J. Payson Bradley 
sounded the assembly. It was the same old bugle that called the regi- 
ment to its baptism of fire, and though the comrade is the youngest 
man of the old command, he has already been commanding officer of 
the Ancient and Honorable Artillery, and as its color bearer, accom- 
panied it on its famous trip abroad. Yesterday he also had a little silk 
American flag which he carried on his trip to England, and when the 
veterans grouped themselves about the monumient on one of several sit- 
tings for pictures, lie draped the flag about six-year-old Hester May 
Chilton, of Spottsylvania, and made her a figure of Liberty to grace the 
centre of the group. 

The monument, of simple design, comprises a base, plinth, die and 
cap, standing eight feet high, about five in width and two in depth. 
Across th« base is the word "Massachusetts," and in the face of the die 
this inscription: 



14 



In Commemoration of the Deeds of the First Regiment, 
Heavy Artillery, Massachusetts Volunteers (Armed as In- 
fantry), three hundred and ninety-eight of whose members 
fell within an hour around this spot during an action fought 
May 19th, 1864. between a Division of the Union Army, 
commanded by General Tyler, and a Corps of the Confed- 
erate forces under General Evvell. l-'rectcd by the Sur- 
vivors of the Regiment, 1901. 



Built ot New England granite, the monument cost $1100. 

UNVEILING EXERCISES. 

Comrade John W. Hart, of the Artillery Association, opened the 
exercises, and P. D. Smith was introduced to preside. He was for- 
merly department commander of the Grand Army in Massachusetts. 
Comrade George W. Lewis made the opening prayer and called for 
blessing equally upon those who wore the Blue and fought under the 
Stars and Stripes and those who wore the Gray and fought under the 
Stars and Bars. 

Though the Secretary of the association, J. W. Gardner, is its his- 
torian, it devolved upon Comrade Bradley to be historian of the day, 
and he fought the battle over again. He characterized the attack as a 
well-planned movement of Ewell's, sanctioned by General Lee, which, 
if successful, would have brought disaster to the Army of the Potomac, 
and attributed its defeat to General Tyler's Division and Kitching's 
Brigade, describing the arrival of the First Maryland veteran volunteer 
and Fifteenth New York Battery when the command seemed doomed. 

l~he First iMassachusetts, 1800 strong, had received easy assigninents, 
mainly near Washington, but its discipline had not been neglected. 

After the battle of the Wilderness it was attached to the Army of the 
Potomac, and on May 17th it marched by way of Fredericksburg to 
Spottsylvania Court House. On the iQth it marched to the Harris farm, 
and in a large open lot back of the house formed en m.asse, battalion 
front. 

ATTACK A SURPRISE. 

Word passed through the regiment that only a few of the enemy's 
cavalry was in the vicinity, and, in fact, no general officer suspected 
the movement that now has gone into history. The attack came with 
volleys from Ramseur's and' Pegram's veteran brigades, and it left the 
untried men with nearly a third of their number in the First Battalion, 
which had first advanced, dead, dying or wounded. The senior major 
had fallen, his body pierced by eleven bullets. Ramseur's Brigade then 
charged, firing at close quarters as it advanced. 

The disorganized battalion retreated, but kept firing, and then it was 
that Shatswell with the other battalions advanced. Three times Ewell's 
men drove them back, and then the Fifteenth New York opened its 
battery of canister. The death of Colonel Boyd, of the Forty-fifth 

16 



the hospital." ^[r. OXonnell was four times captured during the war. 
He escaped three times and has written a book about it. 

"You remember your yell coming up that hill?" asked Mr. Watson. 
"It was 'Huzzah! huzzah! huzzah!' and ours was one we used as boys 
chasing the fox: 'W-h-o-i! w-h-o-i! w-h-o-i!' " 

P. D. Smith, of Andover, lieutenant in the First Massachusetts, 
pointed out the spot where he had received a bullet. Just then a little 
urchin came along. 

"Want to buy bullets?" — a query that greeted the veterans much of 
the day. He pointed out the difference between the Union and Con- 
federate bullets, the former being circled by three rings, the latter by 
two. The urchin found ready customers. 

Major George A. Bartlett, who is now a disbursing officer of the 
United States Treasury Department, recognized some bullets similar to 
one he had taken off the field with him in some part of his anatomy 
alter his brother had been carried ofT dangerously wounded. "Len"' 
Stoddard told how the Aiajor's brother was brought to his home in 
Washington, and that his own brother was said to have been the first 
man killed. 

Glass McNair, another of the party, who lost a leg at Cedar Creek, 
was in the valley campaign under Sheridan, and was wounded on the 
day of the famous ride. He was in the Sixth New York Artillery, in 
Kitching's Brigade, on the extreme left, when on the night of May 19, 
i?64, the Confederate movement was repulsed. 

Thomas H. Harris, who owns the Harris farm, was ten years old when 
the battle was fought, and his father's house was turned into a hospital. 
With his help the visitors unraveled the geography of the place and 
Colonel Shatswell showed them where Major Rolfe's horse emerged 
from the woods, riderless, leaving him in command. Rolfe had gone 
first into the woods with three companies and been suddenly confronted 
with a face to face fire from Confederates who numbered a whole 
division. 

A FAMOUS BUGLE. 

The morning had half passed when Comrade J. Payson Bradley 
sounded the assembly. It was the same old bugle that called the regi- 
ment to its baptism of fire, and though the comrade is the youngest 
man of the old command, he has already been commanding officer of 
the Ancient and Honorable Artillery, and as its color bearer, accom- 
panied it on its famous trip abroad. Yesterday he also had a little silk 
American Hag which he carried on his trip to EnglaJid, and when the 
veterans grouped themselves about the monumient on one of several sit- 
tings for pictures, he draped the flag about six-year-old Hester May 
Chilton, of Spottsylvania, and made her a figure of Liberty to grace the 
centre of the group. 

The monument, of simple design, comprises a base, plinth, die and 
cap, standing eight feet high, about five in width and two in depth. 
Across th€ base is the word "Massachusetts," and in the face of the die 
this inscription: 



14 



In Conuiienit.'ratiou of the Deeds of the First Regiment, 
Heavy Artillery, Massachusetts Volunteers (Armed as In- 
fantry), three hundred and ninety-eight of whose members 
fell within an hour around this spot during an action fought 
May 19th, 1864. between a Division of the Union Army, 
commanded by General Tyler, and a Corps of the Confed- 
erate forces under General Ewell. ICrected by the Sur- 
vivors of the Regiment, 1901. 



Built of New England granite, the monument cost $1100. 

UNVEILING EXERCISES. 

Comrade John W. Hart, of the Artillery Association, opened the 
exercises, and P. D. Smith was introduced to preside. He was for- 
merly department commander of the Grand Army in Massachusetts. 
Comrade George W. Lewis made the opening prayer and called for 
blessing equally upon those who wore the Blue and fought under the 
Stars and Stripes and those who wore the Gray and fought under the 
Stars and Bars. 

Though the Secretary of the association, J. W. Gardner, is its his- 
torian, it devolved upon Comrade Bradley to be historian of the day, 
and he fought the battle over again. He characterized the attack as a 
well-planned movement of Ewell's, sanctioned by General Lee, which, 
if successful, would have brought disaster to the Army of the Potomac, 
and attributed its defeat to General Tyler's Division and Kitching's 
Brigade, describing the arrival of the First Maryland veteran volunteer 
and Fifteenth New York Battery when the command seemed doomed. 

The F'irst ^Massachusetts. 1800 strong, had received easy assignments, 
mainly near Washington, but its discipline had not been neglected. 

After the battle of the Wilderness it was attached to the Army of the 
Potomac, and on May 17th it marched by way of Fredericksburg to 
Spottsylvania Court House. On the 19th it marched to the Harris farm, 
and in a large open lot back of the house formed en m.asse, battalion 
front. 

ATTACK A SURPRISE. 

Word passed through the regiment that only a few of the enemy's 
cavalry was in the vicinity, and, in fact, no general officer suspected 
the movement that now has gone into history. The attack came with 
volleys from Ramseur's and Pegram's veteran brigades, and it left the 
untried men with nearly a third of their number in the First Battalion, 
which had first advanced, dead, dying or wounded. The senior major 
had fallen, his body pierced by eleven bullets. Ramseur's Brigade then 
charged, firing at close quarters as it advanced. 

The disorganized battalion retreated, but kept firing, and then it was 
that Shatswell with the other battalions advanced. Three times Ewell's 
men drove them back, and then the Fifteenth New York opened its 
battery of canister. The death of Colonel Boyd, of the Forty-fifth 

15 



North Carolina, and the appearance of reinforcements turned the scales 
in favor of the Federals. 

The Richmond Examiner of May 24th described the fight and re- 
flected the disappointment felt at the failure of one of the cleverest 
strategic strokes of the war. 

CONFEDERATE VET'S STORY. 

Mr. Watson was then called upon, and he told the visitors that while 
he had promised himself a trip to that battlefield where he had himself 
received a wound, from which he had never recovered, he had selected 
this time, so as to meet the men he had fought and better study the 
ground. He presented a vivid picture of the battle. 

"I belonged to the Veteran Corps of Lee's army," said he. "It was 
called the Jackson Corps. I had fought from Manassas, and on May 12 
was in the Bloody Angle. 

"I saw you men march out on this field, not deployed, but like sol- 
diers on parade, take aim and fire a volley straight from the shoulder. 
You seemed then to me the biggest men I had ever seen. You were so 
near that 1 noticed that you all wore clean shirts. There was the most 
perfect discipline and indifference to danger I ever saw. It was the talk 
of our men." 

Mr. Watson's talk took the gathering by storm, but his eulogy was 
no more loudly applauded than was his invitation to the visitors to 
come South often. "We want to see you," he said. "You are just as 
good as we are; you aren't any better." 

Comrade Charles Burrows, Quartermaster General of the G. A. R., of 
Rutherford, N. J., served in Co. K of the First Massachusetts. He 
delivered an address which was regarded as a gem of panegyric poesy. 

The ceremony ended with the singing of "America," and the reveille, 
and then a large part of the company drove over the neighboring 
battlefields, stopping at the Historic Hotel for dinner, where they were 
received by Sheriff T. A. Harris, of Spottsylvania; Commonwealth's At- 
torney Lee J. Graves and Clerk J. P. H. Crismond. 

Then the party was driven around to the spot marked by a monument 
where Major-General John Sedgwick of the Sixth Union Army Corps 
fell, May Q, 1864. 

V. S. Chancellor, who owns most of the land where was fought the 
battle of the V/jlderness, acted as guide to the party in the trip of some 
three miles over woodland roads and paths that took them to the old 
bullet-ridden farmhouse near Bloody Angle, and to the Angle itself. 

The Iceeper of the house displayed a varied assortment of relics, the 
most interesting of which were blocks of wood split from old trees in 
which bullets had lodged. 

Col. McGee, on reaching the Angle, pomted out where General Ed- 
ward Johnston was captured. The drive through the woods follows 
closely the old breast-works thrown up during the Wilderness and Spott- 
S3-lvania fights and which are still in a remarkably good state of preserva- 
tion. Mr. Chancellor is hopeful that the government will take the land 
for a national park. 

16 



The party reached Fredericksburg on the return after dark and pro- 
ceeded to Washington, where it will spend two days. 

Order of exercises at Monument: — 

Assembly, Com. Bradley on the bugle. 

Meeting- called to order by Comrade J. W. Hart, who, in the 
absence of the President of the Association, called Comrade 
Peter D. Smith to preside. 

Prayer by Comrade Geo. W. Lewis. 

Report of Monument Committee, Col. John W. Hart. 

Turning over Monument to Regiment, Col. John W. Hart. 

Receiving Monument for Regiment, Peter D. Smith. 

Unveiling Monument, Col. Nat. Shatswell. 

Historical May 19, '64, Co!. J. Payson Bradley. 

Historical May 19, "64, C. B. Watson, 45th N. C, C. S. A. 

In Mcmoriam May 19, '64, Chas. Burrows. 

Singing, "America." 

Reveille, Com. Bradley. 

Com. Hart called meeting to order. 

Comrades and Friends, — As Chairman of the Conmnttee on 
Excursion and Monument, it devolves upon me to call this as- 
semblage to order, and in the absence of the President of the 
Association, I will call upon our good friend and comrade to 
preside — Peter D. Smith of Andover, Mass. 

Comrade Smith, on taking the chair: — 

Dear Comrades and Friends, — I thank the comrades for the 
honor of presiding over the exercises on this occasion, for I 
feel that we are on holy ground. Thirty-seven years ago today, 
around this spot 398 of our comrades of the old ist Regiment 
of Fleavy Artillery were killed, wounded or missing, while striv- 
ing to uphold the honor and integrity of the Government. We 
meet today to unveil a monument erected to the memory of 
those dear, brave comrades, by the survivors who are patiently 
waiting for the call. I will call on Comrade Geo. W. Lewis to 
open the exercises with prayer. 

Prayer at Spottsvlvania Dedicatory, 
By Geo. W. Lewis, May 19, 1901. 
O God, Thou who art from everlasting to everlasting, the 
same yesterday, today and forever, in whose hand rests the des- 
tiny of nations, we thank Thee that our lives have been spared 
and that we are permitted to meet on this sacred spot, hallowed 
by the memories of heroic deeds, performed by brave men who 

17 



willingly offered themselves a living sacrifice for the cause they 
loved so well. May their fidelity and devotion be an incentive 
that we may emulate their example and be as obedient to Thee 
in our every-day life. Bless our comrades who are suffering 
from wounds and diseases; may their last days be their best. 
Bless all those who fought under the Stars and Stripes, and 
equally remember those who fought under the Stars and Bars. 
We thank Thee that peace reigns supreme over our fair and 
happy land, and for an undivided country; that there exists to- 
day no sectional dift'erences incident to the Civil War. May 
our interests be so centralized that we shall know no North, no 
South, no East, no West; and may the spirit that raised up Jesus 
Christ from the dead, so quicken our mortal bodies that it may 
teach us to cherish that fraternal love which is essential that 
we should live together in unity, and may we say from our 
hearts: 

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy 
kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. 
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses 
as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into 
temptation, but deliver us from all evil, for thine is the king- 
dom, and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen. 

The whole assembly joined in the Lord's Prayer. 

Report of Monument Committee, and turninc; over of 
Monument to Association. 

Comrade Hart said: — 

Mr. President, Comrades and Friends, — At the annual re- 
union of the First Mass. Heavy Artillery Association, held at 
the Salem Willows two years ago, the matter of placing a mon- 
ument on this spot was talked over. 

At the meeting held last year, at the same place, a connnit- 
tee of six was appointed, consisting of Comrades J. Payson 
Bradley, Peter D. Smith. O. W. Norcross, Geo. W. Lewis, E. 
A. Chandler and John W. Hart, witli full power to raise funds 
and make arrangements for erecting a monument on the Harris 
farm, Spottsylvania, \'a., ?\lay lOth, ujoi. 

After examining five different plans, we selected and author- 
ized Comrade O. W. Norcross of Worcester (a member of Co. 
D) to build the monument you now see before you. 

Comrades, how well we have performed the duties assigned 
us, we leave for vou to say. \\'e have tried to do the best we 

18 



could, and feel that we have placed a monument here that is a 
credit to the Regiment and an lionor to the old Commonwealth 
of Massachusetts. 

Mr. President, it gives me great pleasure to turn over to you 
as the representative of the Association, this beautiful monu- 
ment. 

Com. Smith, replying to Com. Harl : — 

Comrade, — On behalf of the Association of the ist Mass. 
Heavy Artillery, 1 accept this beautiful stone, and wish to ex- 
tend to you and your Committee the thanks of your comrades 
of the Association for the thorough and complete manner in 
which you have carried out their wishes. My comrades, thirty- 
seven }ears ago today we had with us a Major commanding a 
Battalion, with the heart and voice of a lion, our hero of the 
day, who led us on the field with a white handkerchief tied over 
a severe wound in the head, refusing to leave the field; with the 
blood trickling down from beneath the bandage, he was indeed 
an inspiration. Providence has spared him until this time, and 
it is fitting that he should remove Old Glory. I now call upon 
Col. Nathaniel Shatswell to unveil the monument. 

Col. Shatswell's remarks: — 

Mr. Chairman', Ladies, Gentlemen and Conu-ades, — This is 
indeed a proud day for me, having looked forward to it since 
the idea was advanced of erecting a monument to commemorate 
the acts of our Regiment on this field, thirty-seven years ago, 
and to pay lasting tribute to the memory of those who so freely 
gave their lives to their country in its hour of danger; but min- 
gled with that pleasure would come the thought that it would 
be necessary for me to speak to my comrades and their friends 
on this occasion; many anxious moments have come to me as 
to what! what!! what!!! can T say (hat will be fitting for an his- 
torical event like this? \'ainly have T endeavored to write some 
suitable remarks, but gave up in despair, and concluded that 
what I did say nmst come from my heart and the inspiration of 
the hour. 

On that memorable afternoon, thirty-seven years ago, our 
Regiment was formed in line of battle near this spot, with no 
knowledge or scarcely a thought that the enemy were in our 
immediate vicinity. An order came to Major Rolfe, command- 
ing the I St Battalion, to send two companies of skirmishers into 
the woods and use the balance of his command as a supporting 

19 



line. They were met by Rodes' Division of Ewell's Corps. 
Major Rolfe was killed at the first fire. I immediately ordered the 
2(1 Battalion on the double-quick to the rightof the ist, where we 
met and checked the advance of the foe. I will not go into the 
details of the engagement, but will leave that for abler pens 
and more eloquent tongues to tell the story of your valor in that 
your first fight. The official reports of the war make little men- 
tion of the engagement; in the papers it was designated as "an 
aftair on the right of the line"; but to us who participated in 
the conflict, it is impressed on the memory in indelible lines 
never to be effaced. We have the proud satisfaction of know-ing 
that we and our comrades performed our full share in helping 
to save the supply train, and possibly in warding off more dire 
disaster to the Army of the Potomac. On that day the Regi- 
ment made a record that we can all refer to with pride, and 
justly entitles the First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery to be 
classed among the fighting regiments of the war. On that day 
we established a mutual bond of respect and confidence in each 
other that will only end with life. To me it is a proud heritage 
that I have been able to retain the respect and love of those 
noble men it was an honor to command so many years ago. 

Today we meet in peace and not in deadly strife; the Con- 
federate Veterans greet us as friends, not foes, and we extend to 
them the hand of brother Americans, all living under one flag 
in a united country, and all enjoying mutual prosperity. Their 
presence with us in paying tribute to our dead shows that the bit- 
terness of the strife has long since passed away, and that we can 
now meet together on a common footing, tell the story of the 
conflict, and bear lasting testimony of each other's valor. I am 
particularly pleased at the presence of Col. C. B. Watson, of 
the 45th North Carolina, one of the opposing regiments, who 
can tell us their side of the story, and whom we hope to hear 
from. And now, comrades, in the name of the State of Massa- 
chusetts, in memory of those who fell on this sacred spot (made 
more sacred by their blood), in memory of our comrades who 
have joined the Great Army above, in the name of all absent 
comrades of the Regiment, and in your name, I unveil this 
beautiful monument, and may it ever stand as a memorial of 
our love for comrades gone before. 

Com. Smith said:-— We have heard from the same bugle, in 
the same hands, blown by the same comrade who sounded the 
charge thirty-seven years ago today. We are not through with 

20 





COMRADE J. PAYSON BRADLEY. 
Historical Address. 



COMRADE CHARLES BURROWS. 
Address, In Memoriam 





COMRADE GEO. W. LEWIS. 
Chaplain. 



T. H. HARRIS, ESQ. 
Owner of Harris Farm. 



him yet, and it gives me great pleasure to introduce our com- 
rade, J. Payson Bradley, who will deliver the Historical Ad- 
dress. 

Historical Address, deijveked hv J. Payson Bkadi.ev, 
At the Dedication of the Monument, May 19, 1901. 

Comrades and Friends,— Assembled on this beautiful Sabbath 
day to dedicate this monument erected to commemorate the 
heroic deeds of brave men, we claim yot: all as friends for today 
in this simple but impressive ceremony the men of old Essex 
County, Massachusetts, stretch out to the men of Spottsylvania, 
Va., the hand of a brother, and we know you will receive it and 
return the warm grasp in the same spirit. 

Thirty-seven years ago today, upon this field vv'as enacted a 
scene in that tremendous drama which, after four years of strife, 
in which the best blood of the North and South was shed, 
ended as God willed, and now what He in His great goodness 
and wisdom has joined together let no man or nation dare put 
asunder. 

The memory of those stirring days comes back to us from 
the misty past, and again we see the faces of our beloved com- 
rades, as, sitting around the camp-fires, we sing of home and 
loved ones; and now we seem to catch again the warning notes 
of the bugle, and as ranks are hastily formed we move forward 
in line of battle, well knowing that before another morning sun 
shall greet us our circle around the camp-lire will show many 
a vacant jilace and there will come to the dear ones at home 
sorrow and mourning for the loved ones who will never return. 

Sad, sweet memories of the past which will never be forgot- 
ten; but let us thank heaven that we, comrades and soldiers 
standing here today, have lived to see a reunited country, which, 
when assailed by foreign foe, is gallantly defended by the citizen 
soldier and sailor from every section of the nation, all march- 
ing to the music of the Union under the protecting folds of the 
Star Spangled Banner. 

My comrades, when your Committee directed that the young- 
est member of our old Regiment should prepare and deliver an 
historical address on the battle which was fought oh this field 
May 19th, 1864, the task seemed more than any one man could 
accomplish in the short space of time given, for on investigat- 
ing it was found that very little information could be gathered 

21 



iroin reports in the War Department, and history merely men- 
tions it in a casual way as "a brilliant affair"; but from the 
Confederate War Records, tog-ether with copies of Oflficial Or- 
ders and papers which have been carefully gathered together by 
our most efficient Secretary of the Regimental Association, 
Comrade J. W. Gardner, we were enabled to trace and place the 
movements of the Regiment during the entire day, and, from a 
careful and unprejudiced study of the whole situation, we can 
come to but one conclusion, and that is. that the well-planned 
movement of the Confederate General Ewell (sanctioned by 
General Lee) to turn the rig-ht fliank of the Army of the Po- 
tomac, capture its supply train and also General Headquarters, 
and thereby bring confusion and disaster to the entire army, was 
defeated by General Tyler's Division and Kitching's Brigade of 
Heavy Artillery, the first line of which was held for nearly one 
and a half hours ag-ainst overwhelming numbers and at tremen- 
dous loss by the Tst Massachusetts and ist Maine Heavy Ar- 
tillery, assisted by two guns from Hart's 15th New York Inde- 
pendent Battery. 

General Ewell's movement was an entire surprise to the 
Union commanders and it was not until the battle was over that 
they fully realized how near it had come to having been success- 
ful, and God only knows what the result might have been. 

The opening engagement of the Battle of the Wilderness was 
fought May 5th, 1864. On May 15th the ist Massachusetts 
Heavy Artillery, Col. Thomas R. Tannett commanding, was 
ordered to join the Army of the Potomac. 

On the 16th it arrived at Belle Plain and reported to General 
R. O. Tyler, and was assigned to the 2nd Brigade of his Division. 

May 17th it marched with the division by the way of Freder- 
icksburg to the headquarters of the Army of the Potomac near 
Spottsylvania, arriving about two o'clock on the morning of the 
i8th and bivouacked on the left of the Fredericksburg road. 

About six o'clock moved one mile to the right of the road and 
took up a position as support to a battery and was under artil- 
lery fire at intervals during the day. 

Towards evening marched up the road about two miles and 
bivouacked in the woods for the night. 

On the afternoon of May 19th, being encamped near armv 
headquarters, we were informed by scouts that a small body of 
cavalry had been seen moving around our right flank. We at 
once marched about two miles to the Harris farm (on which we 

22 



are now assembled) and turning off the pike to the right we 
then wheeled to the left into a large open field near the Harris 
iiouse, where we formed en masse, battalion front. 

From this position Companies F and D were deployed as 
skirmishers, and word was passed through the regiment that 
there were only a few cavalry in our vicinity. 

As soon as the skirmishers are sent out the ist Battalion un- 
der Maj. Rolfe moved to the left of tlie knoll near the Harris 
house. The 2nd Battalion tmder ^^laj. Shatswell and the 3d 
Battalion under Maj. Holt moved to the right of the knoll, and 
in a lew minutes we stand in line of battle, the 1st l>attalion be- 
ing just in front of the barn or smokehouse on top of the knoll, 
the 2nd anil 3d l)attalions being to the right of the Tst, which 
brought the extreme right of the regiment, which was acting as 
a brigade with Col. Tannett conmianding. up near the Alsop 
house. 

From the Harris house there was a road running north and 
south through the large open field and also one running from 
the field to the .Alsop farm, which was the central point of that 
part of the battle in which the ist Mass. and ist Maine -were en- 
gaged. 

Although no general oflficer suspected that a movement in 
force by the Confederates was being made in our front, yet Gen. 
Tyler had so stationed his division of artillery (now acting as in- 
fantry) as to make them most effective. 

On the extreme right of the Division was the 1st Maine, their 
left resting near the Alsop house. On their left was the ist 
Mass. with their right at the Alsop house, and their left at the 
Harris house. 

The 2nd New ^'ork was to the left and rear of the ist Mass. 
in the second line. 

The /th New York was in the second line to the rear of the 
1st Maine. 

The 8th New York was in the second line, and in the rear 
of the ist Mass. and ist Maine. 

The T5th New York Independent Battery (two guns) was 
posted on the knoll behind the smokehouse, in rear of the ist 
Battalion of the 1st Mass. 

Each of the five Colonels was to act as a Brigadier General, 
each Regiment as a Brigade, and each Battalion as a Regiment 
midcr the direct connnand of its Major acting as Colonel; and 
now in our narrative \\c must confine ourselves for the time be- 

23 



ing to such scenes in the battle as came under our own obser- 
vation and have to do with that part of the field in which our 
Regiment was engaged. 

As we stood in line of battle that beautiful afternoon, you, my 
comrades, who were present, will never forget the scene. The 
bright sunlight, the gentle south wind just moving the pine 
boughs so sweet with the odors of Spring, the almost Sabbath- 
like stillness, no sound but the chirping of the birds in the trees 
on the borders of the field, or the low murmur of the men's 
voices in which can be heard the expression oft repeated, "If we 
are going to have a fight I hope the boys will stand right up to 
the work and show the army and the folks at home the value 
of two years of constant drilling- and severe discipline." But 
suddenly there comes from the woods in our front the sharp 
crack of a skirmisher's rifle, and instantly there rings out the 
command "ist Battalion, forward!" and, as if on parade, every 
man steps oft touching elbow to elbow as w'e marched down the 
slope towards the woods in our front. The line was perfect, and 
up to that time not more than a dozen shots had been fired by 
the skirmish line: but all at once word went through the Bat- 
talion that Washburn of Co. F had been killed on the skirmish 
line, and instantly every man seemed to show by the look in his 
face that there was serious work ahead for the regiment. We 
had received orders not to fire until we saw something to fire at, 
and then to fire low. With a rush our line advanced into the 
woods about fifty yards, where it was met with a perfect hail of 
lead from a body of men who seemed to rise up out of the earth. 
This was our first intimation that the enemy was any where 
near us in force. This volley was delivered about 4 p. m. by the 
veteran brigades of Ramseur, Pegram and Grimes, of Ewell's 
Corps, made up as follows: 

Third Brigade, Third Division, Second Army Corps, C. S. A. 

Gen. S. D. Ramseur's Brigade, Rodes' Division. 

2d, 4th, 14th, 30th North Carolina. 

Second Brigade, First Division, Second Army Corps, C. S. A. 

Gen. John Pegram's Brigade, Gordon's Division. 

13th, 31st, 49th, 52d, s8th Virginia. 

First Brigade, Third Division, Second Army Corps, C. S. A. 

Gen, Bryan Grimes' Brigade. Rodes' Division. 
32d, 43d, 45th, 53d North Carolina and 2d Battalion, North Carolina. 

Words cannot describe the feelings of the men who still re- 

24 



mained standing in line, for about them lay a third of their com- 
rades dead, dying or wounded; the cries of pain, the noise of 
musketry, the hiss of the rifle ball, the dull thud as the leaden 
messenger of death finds lodgment in the body of some beloved 
comrade, remain with us today like the memory of some horrid 
dream. 

The Battalion had lost its commander, who falls from his 
horse pierced with bullets. A few of the boys are kneeling and 
firing in the direction of the smoke; but only for a moment, for 
now the enemy, having found time in which to reload, charge on 
us wth the most terrific yells, led by Ramseur's Brigade, who 
shoot down at close range those who would not retreat. On 
they come, over the dead and wounded which had fallen from 
his first volley. The remnant of the battalion, broken and disor- 
ganized, with almost every ofScer gone, was forced back, firing 
as they retreated towards the knoll from which they had made 
their advance only a few minutes before, every man's heart filled 
with revenge for the terrible reception we had received at the 
hands of the enemy on our first introduction into active service. 

While all this was taking place Gen. Ewell had brought into 
line the remainder of his Corps, and the firing now extended the 
entire length of Rodes' and Gordon's Divisions in front of and 
facing the ist ^lass. and the ist Maine, which constituted our 
first line of battle. In the second line, behind the ist Maine and 
between them and Army Headquarters, were the 7th and 8th 
New York. The 2nd New York was to the rear and left of the 
1st iMass., as before stated. As the troops of Ramseur's Brigade 
appeared in the opening, following closely the retreating rem- 
nant of our 1st Battalion, the situation was such as to somewhat 
check the ardor of Gen. Ramseur and his brave North Carolin- 
ans. The other two Battalions of the ist Mass. had a little 
warnmg at the opening of the fight and did not break, and now, 
under the leadership of the cool and brave Maj. Shatswell, 
who though wounded in the head and heavily engaged in his im- 
mediate front.' pours a hot fire into Ramseur's left flank. Be- 
hind the smokehouse on the knoll are the two guns of Hart's 
15th New York Battery. Out they come one on each side of 
the house and send into the faces of the advancing Confederates 
round after round of canister. At the same time the 2nd New 
York froui its advantageous position on our left and rear delivers 
a most galling fire into the right flank of the enemy. This com- 
bined fire in flank and front was more than human flesh and 

25 



blood could stand. They halt, and as they waver for a moment, 
our boys charg^e them v/ith a cheer, giving) them a hot fire as 
they fall back into the woods, and re-form for another and more 
desperate assault along the whole front of our lines. Again they 
advance and are received by the same withering fire from our 
men, who, although sorely pressed, hold their ground and finally 
by a counter charge send them back into the woods again. But 
Gen. Ewell is not through with us yet, and his veteran troops 
are formed for the third and last time to accomplish that for 
vvhich he set out, the turning of the right flank of our army. 
The fighting now becomes desperate; the ist Maine on our 
right are being hard pressed by Gordon's Division, and although 
losing men by the score they only yield a few rods of ground. 
In our own front Eodes' Division has pushed close up to our 
lines and each one is finding in the other "foenien worthy of his 
steel." The crash of musketry has turned into a roar like thun- 
der and it seemed as if we must be swept from the field by the 
superior force of the Confederate veterans, but the death at this 
time of Col. Samuel H. Boyd of the 45th North Carolina Regi- 
ment, who fell while bravely leading his men, and the appear- 
ance on our right of the ist Maryland (Union) Veteran Regi- 
ment under Col. Dushane, turn the scales in our favor. It ap- 
pears that this regiment was marching up the Fredericksburg 
pike returning to the army from veteran furlough, and on hear- 
ing the firing the brave Colonel without a moment's hesitation 
marched directly for it and without orders from any superior 
officer sharply attacked Gen. Gordon's advancing line. This un- 
expected appearance of old fighters from a quarter which Gor- 
don had been informed w^as free from troops seemed to check 
his further advance. Shortly after six o'clock reinforcements 
from Birney's Division of the 2nd Corps arrived on the field, 
quickly followed by other troops from the 5th Corps, but the 
fighting was practically over, although firing was continued until 
after dark. Gen. Ewell, on finding reinforcements of old troops 
in his front, and suffering from a severe strain received as his 
horse fell shot from under him, made no further attempt, and 
during the night fell back to the main army under Lee. So 
many of the bravest and best of the old Commonwealth were 
laid low upon that day, that we hardly dare single out any one 
of them for special mention as an example of the whole, but we 
cannot refrain from mentioning our "dead hero" Maj. Rolfe, who 
fell while gallantly leading the ist Battalion of the Regiment into 

26 



action: and we know how unsatisfactorx- this address would be to 
the survivors of the old Regiment did we not mention our "living 
hero," the brave and beloved Maj. Shatswell, who was an inspira- 
tion to us all on that day, and who, we thank Heaven, is with us 
on this occasion. The battle is over, but look on yonder tablet 
and see at what a fearful cost. On the morning of the 20th we 
buried our dead where they fell on the "field of honor," and our 
sad hearts were cheered and we were all greatly encouraged by 
the following order of the Commanding General : 

Hcadqivarters Army of the Potoinac. 

8 A. M., May 20th. 1864. 
Special Orders. 

The Major General Commanding desires to express his satisfaction 
with the good conduct of Tyler's Division and Kitching's Brigade of 
Heavy Artillery in the affair of yesterday evening. The gallant manner 
in which these commands, the greater portion being for the first time 
under fire, met and checked the persistent attack of a 9t»rps of the 
enemy led by one of his ablest Generals, justifies the Commanding Gen- 
eral in this special commendation of troops w^ho, henceforward, will be 
relied upon, as were the tried veterans of the 2nd and 5th Corps at the 
same time engaged. 

By command of 

Maj. Gen'l- Meade. 
S. Williams. A. A. General. 

[ have been asked this morning by some of our Confederate 
friends the reason of our determined stand against the persistent 
and repeated attacks of overwhelming numbers, and mv reply 
shall be the order of our Brigade Commander, issued in Tunc, 
1865, a year after the battle: 

Headquarters Second Brigade. Third Division, Second Army Corps, 

June 15th, 1865. 
Special Order Mo. 166. 

The 1st Mass. Heavy Artillery having been ordered to report to Gen. 
Hancock, the commanding genera! desires in parting with them to ex- 
press his heartfelt thanks for their general good conduct while under 
his command. Although entering the field in the summer of 1864, at 
the height of the most severe campaign the army ever saw, they showed 
by their daring bravery and gallant charges that they had been disci- 
plined for a purpose. 

Their decimated ranks attest the valor and patriotic spirit with which 
they were inspired. 

He has every reason to feel proud of their conduct both in camp and 
field, and shall ever remember with pleasure their connection and as- 

27 



sociations with the brigade, with which their military history has now 
become a part. 

By command of 

Brig. Gen. B. R. Pierce, 

Com'dg Brigade. 
Oftcial. 
C. W. Forrester. Lieut, and A. A. A. G. 

Had we the time, it wotild be interesting' to give the Confeder- 
ate Oiificer.s' Official Report of the flank movement, and also an 
account of the battle as given in the "Richmond Examiner" of 
May 24th, 1864. It is apparent that they were all disappointed 
at the miscarriage of well-laid plans, and greatly astonished at 
the stubborn resistance given them by the Heavy Artillery Regi- 
ments. And now, my comrades and friends, our duty for this oc- 
casion is performed. As we go from this place let us take with 
us the memory of brave men who reddened this field with their 
life's blood, and remember that they were all Americans; and 
leaving here with our friends in Virginia this memorial of New 
England granite, let it be as a corner-stone on which, in years 
to come, there shall be built in spirit by those who follow us an 
altar of love and service dedicated to our whole country, which 
we can never honor with too deep a reverence, which we can 
never love with an affection too pure and fervent, or serve with 
an energy of honest purpose too steadfast and ardent, and from 
our very heart of hearts may we ever pray — God bless our 
country. 

Below are printed extracts from the report of one of the Con- 
federate Generals referred to in Comrade Bradley's address: 

Report of Gen'l S. D. Ramseuk, C. S. A. 

2d, 4th, 14th, 30th North Carolina, Rodes' Division. 

(Serial No. 67, Fol. 1082), Aug. 3, 1864. 

About 3 p. m. (May ]g) the corps was moved across the Nye River 
to attack the enemy in flank and rear. My Brigade was in front. Some 
half an hour afterward the enemy discovered our movement, and when 
further delay, as I thought, would cause disaster, I ofifered to attack 
with my Brigade. I advanced and drove the enemy rapidly and with 
severe loss imtil my Hanks were both partially enveloped. I then re- 
tired about 200 yard.s and re-formed my line with Grimes' Brigade on my 
left and Battles' on my right. At this moment the troops of Johnson's 
Division, now vmder Gen. Gordon, on Grimes' left, were flanked and re- 
treated in disorder. This compelled our lines to fall back to our first 
position. Here a heavy force attacked us. Fortunately, Pegram's gal- 
lant brigade came in on my left in elegant style just as the enemy were 

28 






COMRADE EDW. A. CHANDLER. 
Menibei of Monument Committee. 



L":OiVlRADE GEO. S. GIBSON. 
Member of Monument Committee. 





COMRADE S. B. DEARBORN. 
Member of Monument Committei? 



COMRADE JOSEPH W. GARDNER. 
Secretary of Regt'l Association 



about to turn me there. Several attacks of the enemy were repulsed, 
and we were able to hold our position till night, when we quietly and 
safely withdrew. The conduct of my Brigade on this occasion Maj. Gen. 
Rodes witnessed. I may be pardoned for feeling that the steady bravery 
of ni}^ troops largely contributed to the repulse of the enemy's heavy 
force and the salvation of our Corps. . . . "While we envy not others 
Iheir merited glory," we feel it to bo our l)ounden duty to North Caro- 
lina, to our gallant soldiers, and to ou'; dead heroes, that we shall be 
fairh' represented in history's story. We therefore call upon our Maj. 
General and Lieut. General, both of whom witnessed our conduct on 
May 121I1 and loth, to tell our fellow citi7.ens how wo did our duty. 

S. D. Ranisour. Major General. 

I'resident Smith said: 

After my arrival here thi.'^ incniiiio | at once j^roceeded to the 
Alsop (or i <o\\ r\ ) iioii.se to vi.sit the ^])ui where I received a 
bad wotind. May iq, i86_!. As T neared tlie s])ot I found a gentle- 
man lookino- for relics: that same gentleman was present 37 
years ago. hut under different circumstances. At that time we 
were gunning for <^ac]i other, — I found him there and as onr 
party was the largest I easily drove him in. — in fact he was 
rather pleased to come along-, and we now extend to him the 
soldiers greeting". Comrades, \\\[h much pleasure 1 intrcxluce a 
l)rave soldier who fcjught in the Confederate g^ray, C. P.. Watson, 
of Winston, N. C, v.ho was a. sergeant in Co. K of the 45th 
Xorth Carolina Regt., Crimes' l'>rig., Rodes' Div., Ewell's 
Corps, 

RFA1.\RKS OF C. B. WATSON, SKRGT. CO. K. 45111 N. C. C. S. A. 

Dear Friends: I cannot express my feelings on this occasion. Thirty- 
seven years ago today the men of the First Massachusetts Heavy .Vr- 
tillery met me and the other members of my regiment as deadly ene- 
mies on this field. The inscription on this beautiful and stately monu- 
ment will tell to future generations how deadly the conflict was. I 
have come three hundred miles, from down in North Carolina, to be 
with you today — to be with you while you commemorate heroic deeds. 

Lord Byron's Manfred, speaking to the Chamois Hunter up in the 
.'Mpine Mountains, said: "Think'st existence doth depend on time? It 
doth; but actions are our epochs." This is the thirty-seventh anniver- 
sary of an epoch in the lives of each and every one of us. 

Thirty-seven years ago this afternoon. General Ewell marched his 
corps of Confederate veterans from the main line over beyond the 
blood}- "horseshoe" about a mile from us, for the purpose of turning 
the right wing of General Grant's army and taking possession of yonder 
highway leading from Fredericksburg to his army, and capturing or 
destroying his supply trains. And we came expecting to do it. Ours 
was the old Second Corps formerly commanded by Stonewall Jackson. 

29 



Mary of its regiments had participated in every engagement from the 
first battle of Manassas to Spottsylvania Court House. We had been 
fighting for fourteen days in the Wilderness and at Spottsylvania. We 
met your forces that afternoon and discovered at once that we were 
confronted by fresh troops. You wore fresh uniforms. You did not 
wear the marks of the muddy trenches. We discovered at once that, 
while you did not have the art of protecting yourselves under fire 
which the veterans of many battles had. you had the courage, the dis- 
cipline and the soldierly qualities that meant a stubborn fight for us. 
My surviving comrades and I have often spoken of the conduct of our 
enemies on that day. You marched as if on dress parade. Your fire 
was awfully effective. Your men did not know how to protect them- 
selves by taking advantage of the inequalities of the ground which they 
defended, as they afterwards doubtless learned, but they did know 
how to stand up and tight and die like men. Had you not done so that 
day, you would not today be here celebrating that event and marking 
this spot with a beautiful audi enduring monument. Men do not mark 
by shaft or pile a spot where ignoble deeds are done. Had you retired 
before our advancing lines that day, this field would not have become 
historic. Had you done so, I, as your contestant on this field, would 
not have troubled myself to quit business and travel three hundred 
miles to meet you here and witness your ceremonies. 

The story carved on this granite will live throughout all generations, 
perpetuating the heroic deeds of the Massachusetts men who bled and 
died on this sanguinary field. It also records for all time the fact that 
men made of stern stufif, Americans all, stood in your front. Your 
division that afternoon was confronted, in the fiercest of the conflict, 
by the two North Carolina Brigades of Grimes and Ramseur. Yon 
have pointed out to me today the places where you made your greatest 
sacrifices. I have pointed out to you the places where we bled, the 
spot where our Colonel, Samuel H. Boyd, offered up his life. We were 
face to face during that awful sixty minutes. 

And now, ladies of the Massachusetts party, I have told you some- 
thing of the courage and devotion to duty of the young soldiers of the 
long ago, now your husbands and your fathers. Now, who confronted 
them? Were they worthy foemen? Did they have courage, patience 
and endurance? Let one speak for all, the living and the dead. Just 
over beyond that ravine stands the Alsop house, on a long extended 
ridge. Just in front of that house runs that little brook and just across 
'uns a parallel ridge. On the first ridge stood the brigades of Grimes 
and Ramseur. on the, second stood the Massachusetts and Maine men, 
about seventy-five yards apart. The fight had been on some time with 
varying success, but now the supreme struggle was at hand- The 
.Americans in blue stood erect and fired straight from the shoulder; the 
Americans, Carol inans in gray, sat on their knees just behind the crest 
and fired from the shoulder. Death was the rule, life and safety the 
exception. The carnage was so great that the blood of a Ramseur 
burned as with fire. "Forward charge!" rang out from the left; we rec- 



30 



ognized the voice, down the slope we dashed. Before we reached the 
brook, Col. Boyd fell, shot through the heart. Men were falling every- 
where. I fell and was borne to the rear and over to the house of the 
Misses Peyton you see yonder in the distance to the field hospital. I 
was clad in the usual manner of the Confederate soldier, cap, coat, 
pants and underclothing. They laid me under a tree in the yard of the 
Misses Peyton; the surgeon removed my outer clothing, cut from, my 
body the underclothing saturated with blood, my socks in the same way. 
Encouraging me with kind words to live, he dressed my wound and 
stopped the flow of blood. That night I was placed in an ambulance, 
with no clothing but an old soiled gray coat and pants, shoes, without 
socks, and carried back to the division field hospital in the rear of our 
old lines. I was then placed in a two-mule wagon on a little straw or 
leaves, and hauled by day and by night, without medical aid or nour- 
ishment, to TTanover Junction, near Richmond, and carried thence tn 
Richmond by rail. With that wound almost mortal, I lingered between 
life and death till the autumn frosts came. I followed the fortunes of 
General Lee to the end and was one of the number he surrenderedi at 
Appomattox, and I now live to rejoice with you over the peace and 
prosperity that bless a reunited country. I say a reunited country : 
my section has suf^'ered, but is about to prevail and live. And to prove 
to you that we are no longer the enemies of New England. I invite you 
to come down to North Carolina and see us. Come to my house (not 
all of you at once, in any event, not without a little notice). If you 
come among us you will duly appreciate us and we will show you that 
we can appreciate you. We struggled here over a difference as to the 
construction of our great fundamental law. May we be understood, 
then and now. We claim that then, and here, upon this historical 
field, and now, and here, and at home, we are no better than our breth- 
ren of Massachusetts, of New England, but then, now, and everywhere, 
we were and are just as good. 

These good peo])le of Spottsylvania County understand all these 
things. They will guard and protect this monument as their own. I 
look in their faces and feel and know this. 

My friends. T thank yon for the kindly mannt-r in which I have been 
invited to participate in these ceremonies, and wish to say in conclu- 
sion. I, hope we may meet again; and may peace, happiness and un- 
bounded prosperity abide with you, your children, and your children's 
children, forever. 

President Smith: 

We have listened to the elornient words of a inenil)er of Co. K, 
.15tli X. C. C. S. .\., and now we know it will he in order 
to hear from Co. K of ist Mass. Heavy Artillery. Allow me to 
introduce a comrade whom we all love to honor, Charlie Bur- 
rows, of Rutherford. X. J. 



31 



Comrades and Friends: As a member of the old regiment and one of 
those who stood here with the men to whose memory we erect this 
monument, I have been asked by the Committee to say a few words be- 
fitting the occasion. 

I am cautioned that I must be brief and I am aware too that 

"Words are the weakest things 
That man as tribute brings 
Unto the world's true kings. 
Yet words, too. have their grace, 
Their golden time and place." 

Standing liere on tliis historic field the Hood-gates of memory are 
opened and there seems rushing in upon me such a crowd of recollec- 
tions from out the distant and glorious past, that it seems well nigh 
impossible to sumnion appropriate words with which to express to you 
the feeling that fills my heart. 

A famou."-. author once wrote. "We count by changes and events within 
us, not by years." This, it seems to me, is strikingly true of this na- 
tion and especially of the men who were active participants on either 
side in the great Civil War. 

While more than a generation has passed since the close of that 
eventful strife, the changes we have witnessed have been far greater 
than were ever known in the same length of time since the history of 
the world began. 

It is thirty-seven years since we first stood upon this field, but look- 
mg into your faces today T seem not to note the changes made by time, 
the furrowed cheek, the thin and frosted locks, the bent form, the rem- 
nant of the old regiment, all these vanish and there comes before my 
vision a long line of the boys in blue, firm, erect and stalwart. Thirty- 
seven years ago today, it was a warm Spring day, the woods and fields 
were green, the wild flowers in blossom, flowers fashioned by the hand 
of the Almighty as perfumed goblets to hold the dew, destined that day 
to be filled with human blood. 

There met on this field as brave men as ever met in battle, men of a 
common nation, wearing two uniforms, bearing two flags, each strong 
in the faith of his cause, so strong in his belief that he stood ready and 
willingly offered his life upon the altar of that belief. 

It was then the monarchies of the old world looked on and predicted 
the end of a republican form of government; but under an all-wise 
Providence there was seated in the Presidential chair at Washington 
the greatest and most unique figure in human history, the immortal 
Abraham Lincoln, and he had placed in command of the armies that 
great, silent, modest soldier. Ulysses S. Grant. 

There was marshaled ready, willing and impatient to obey his com- 
mand, a mighty host, the rank and file of which was filled with a pur- 
pose and spirit such as the Old World had never seen, little understood 
and not in the least comprehended. With such a combination this gov- 
ernment was destined to be preserved for all time. 

Tlic Old \\'orld looked with wonder as the mighty struggle went on; 

32 



they wondered when they saw these two great armies of the North 
and the South disband and return to peaceful occupations, but how 
much greater was their wonderment when, a generation later, they wit- 
nessed the spectacle of the survivors of these two armies, those who 
wore the Blue and those wlio wore the Gray, standing .>ihoulder to 
shoulder against a foreign foe, under one Hag and for the honor of a 
united country. It was then demonstrated to the world that this "gov- 
ernment of the people, by the people and for the people should not 
perish from the earth," and this nation at one stride took its place as 
the foremost nation of the world. 

It has been a custom among people in all ages to erect memorials to 
their warrior dead. Centuries before the Christian era the Athenians 
proudly reared a votive tablet wliereon they inscribed) the names of 
sons who had fallen in battle fighting in distant provinces for the glory 
of Athens. With how much more just a pride can we rear this monu- 
ment to the memory of our comrades who fell nobly fighting, not for 
.self aggrandizement, not for glory, not for conquest, but for freedom, 
for truth, for national unity and human rights. 

The ground whereon we stand is lioly. It has been consecrated by 
the blood of the Nation's bravest sons, North and South. Their blood 
mingled here on this soil forms a cement for the foundation for this 
monument which shall cause it to endure for all time. This memorial 
celebrates no victory. It is erectedi by loving hands, with a reverent 
spirit, in the hope and belief that it will be a lesson to coming genera- 
tions to teach them a greater love of country and, if need be, to sac- 
rifice for their country all that their fathers did before them. 

We leave our Comrades to sleep in the full consciousness that they 
did their whole duty. We leave them with the knowledge that^ 

"After life's fitful fever they sleep well. 

Nay, they do not sleep, all that was mortal only dreamless lies. 
With fond memories we gather here. 

While their grand souls look downward from the skies. 
The Heroes move with Hero Spirits now. 

The Patriots greet the Patriots of yore. 
And immortelles are twined about those brows 

That only wore the laurel wreath before. 
Their fame is ours throughout all coming time. 

While language lasts their names will be caressed. 
Their deeds may others lead to paths sublime, 

And ages yet unborn shall rise and call them blessed." 

Singing of America by those present. 

Comrade Smith: 

Citizens of Spottsylvania. we have brought a piece of granite 
from our New England hills and placed it here. We are going 
back to our homes in the Old Bay State. We leave it in your 

33 



charge. We know that you wiU see that no harm comes to it. 
Guard it weH, with your hves if need be, for it is another tie 
that binds Massachusetts and Virginia together. 

After the exercises were completed at the monument we start 
down the Spottsylvania road to the Court House, where we are to 
dine at the Historic Hotel. Seventy-five in party, strong. Well, 
mine host had plenty to eat and the rations were fair, but he had 
no one to serve the food, and we had quite a slow time getting 
our dinner, but with our Colonels as waiters we managed to enjoy 
it. Col. Hart, Col. Bradley, Comrades Smith and Lewis got the 
rations along with much celerity and strength, perhaps not in 
the most approved style. I certainly did dodge upon seeing one 
of the above quartette with a waiter on four fingers over my 
head. I was expecting every moment to get four or five chow- 
ders down the back of my neck. T hope they will never be 
forced to don the white apron, they \vill have so much to learn. 
After an hour's rest for horses and comrades we start on 1 think 
the Brock road for the Sedgwick monument. At the monument 
the party became split, the party proper under lead of Col. Hart 
keeping on past the monument and through the Wilderness. The 
road through the Wilderness was, T am told, in very fair condi- 
tion ; the party which I followed came back for half a mile toward 
the Court House, lurning of¥ the Brock road sharp to the left we 
went over the new^ road built by Mr. Chancellor through the 
ground of the 12th of May, 1864, known as the "Bloody Angle." 
The road was simply terrible, and I pitied the horses and car- 
riages, but the scenery was grand, the old works running in 
every direction still remained in part. The house riddled with 
bullets was a sight never to be forgotten, but the road was a 
tough problem. It was getting late and the poor horses were 
jaded when to nn- surprise we came out of the woods about half 
way between the Harris farm and the Court House; it was near 
7 ]). m. when we landed at the Kxchange. having been on the 
road eleven hours, with two hours' rest. After a good wash and 
a look into my satchel I got myself in trim and managed to eat 
a fair sup]:)er: the train is late tonight and after getting com- 
fortably seated in our car at 9.20, we start for W^ashington at 
9.50. 

Our stay in Fredericksburg, forty-eight hours, has been most 
pleasant and all are enthusiastic regarding the agreeable ac- 
quaintances made here. We sincerely hope that on our next 
visit the United States will have taken the park reserva- 

U 



tion, that tlie "reat State of Virginia will have ])iil the colored 
man ai v.. irk l^nilding ibe corduroy roads through the grounds, 
and that an electric car system will strike every point of interest 
around tiu' city. Kverv soldier and every soldier's son, north 
and south, slionld rise u]) and compel the passage of the hill for 
this ])ark reservation. W'e have made a good start and are 
ready to go further. 

The program for the ]i)th was well carried out. although 
there were many guests, whom we expected, who did not ar- 
ri\c. I'elow is a letter of regret from Gen. John I), (lordon, 
whose Division was in the advance of I'^well's Corps on the 19th: 

Atlanta, Georgia, May 15th, 1901. 
Hon. John W. Hart, Chairman, 
First Mass. Heavy Artillery Association, 

Salem. Mass. 
yiy Dear Sir: Please accept my thanks for the cordial invitation sent 
me to he the guest of the First Mass. Heavy Artillery Association at 
Fredericksburg, Virginia, May i8th and iQth, 1901. 

It would give me great pleasure to meet the Association at the point 
and time named, but other engagements of the most exacting character 
deny me this privilege. With all good wishes, I am. 

Sincerely yours, 

J. B. Gordon. 

Judge J. T. Goolrick had accepted an invitation to be present 
and deliver an address, but owing to an unfortunate mistake in 
sending the carriage for him he did not arrive. This was a 
source of much regret to all, as we desired to hear him. and also 
have the good old town of Fredcricksbiu-g represented in the 
exercises. 

We received a telegram from a comrade who was active in 
assisting us to raise the monument and whom w-e had hoped to 
have \\ith us. 

John W. Hart. 

With 1st Mass. Heavy Artillery, 

Exchange Hotel. Fredericksburg. Va. 
I regret not being able to be with you on Sunday to dedicate the 
monumenl. Comrade Gibson will fdl my place. Though absent, my 
thoughts will be with vfiu on the field where we left our gallant com- 
rades thirty-seven years ago. 

Orlando W. Norcross. 

At 11.43 r^- '^i- Stmdny. we arri\-e in the city of Washington, 
proceed at onc<^ ti^ National llotel. all pretty well jaded and 

35 



fagged. Going- down to the liotel office at 12 for a letter, there 
is not a sign of our party, every one content to go to rest. All 
are on deck early in the morning and found excellent bill of fare 
to make selections for a square meal, and right heartily did we 
feast. The old National always has maintained a reputation for 
many years as an institution of comfort and good fare, and 
from the expressions of satisfaction which I heard among our 
party, and my own experience, it is n()t at present losing any 
ground. 

Any attempt on my part to write up the grand city would fail, 
but I cannot desist from comparing the present with its ap- 
pearance in [(S61. Typo in 1861 says, "My previous impressions 
of Washington were not only strengthened, but fresh feelings 
of aversion and astonishment were engendered in my mind by 
my second visit. It is decidedly the best specimen of a 'one- 
horse town' I have ever encountered and is emphatically ahead 
of Hudson, X. Y., in being behind the times. The hotels, of 
which we read so much, are but dirty, shabby-looking afifairs at 
the best, when compared with those of Boston and New York; 
the streets are ill-paved, poorly lighted, deep with filth and mire; 
the stores are not to be compared with those in our eastern 
country towns, are dirty, confused and uninviting. Every con- 
ceivable kind of architecture appears on Pennsylvania avenue, 
and hogs are allowed to roam unmolested through the principal 
thoroughfares. The depot is a most disgusting afifair. and the 
unfinished Capitol anfl half-l)uilt Washington Monument do not 
tend to beautify the city." The above was not far from true. Tlie 
Washington of 1901 is the pride of all xA.mericans, the broad and 
well lighted avenues and streets, every one laid with asphalt 
paving, the magnificent public buildings, the elegant residences 
of American millionaires, which appear in every part of the city, 
the little corners of green parks to be found everywhere, teiid to 
show the march of a great people during the forty years that 
have passed. Washington is the Alecca of this great land and 
every American should surely see it and pass as much time as 
possible looking over its grandeur and its possibilities, for it 
must at some time in the future become the grandest city in the 
world. 

Tuesday. May 21 — After bidding the "Old National" and its 
genial host ''good-bye" and receiving from him the compliment 
that ours was the best party of its size (and the least trouble) 
that he had ever entertained, we boarded our palace car and 

36 



started for Baltimore at 3.10. There were but a few who left 
our party in Wasliington. Arriving in Baltimore, it was "go as 
you please" to the good ship Howard, Capt. Nickerson. All 
were immediately assigned berths and at 7 p. m. the Howard 
left her dock on the trip to Beanland. After an elegant supper, 
the party lined the decks to take in the beautiful sail down the 
Chesapeake Bay, nearly two hundred miles. The bay was full 
of vessels of every description and the water was as quiet as on 
a lake. Many stayed up late and seemed to enjoy the sail and 
the lights which appeared on either side. We pass Fortress 
Monroe on the right, into Hampton Roads, passing the Rip- 
Raps on om- left. We steam into New]>ort News abo'Ut 9 a. m. 
We liave an early breakfast on the l)oat ; nearly all of our 
party go ashore for the day, a good part go to the navy yard 
to view the big ships which are being built there. For the first 
time during the trip we were to have a heavy rain and wind 
storm. After the trolley ride from Newport News, through 
Hampton to Fortress Monroe, the storm came on' in fury, the 
water came up over the wharves and the river and bay looked 
wicked. But it did not last long, the wind soon died down, the 
sun put in an appearance and the water soon became calm. For 
twenty-iive cents each we were driven all through the old 
Fortress, which, although it covers a large space, does not seem 
very forniidable. ^Ve start about 1.30 p. m. on steamer Hampton 
for Norfolk. This was a most delightful thirty-minutes' sail 
across the mouth of the James river, the only trouble it was 
too short; but what an appetite we all had as we hurried to 
Jimmy Jones's famous oyster parlor; fried oysters never 
tasted any better to your himible servant than upon 
this day at said Jones's. By the way, if you ever visit Norfolk 
and do not taste the oysters as served by J. J. you will be sorry. 
The boat does not leave until 8 p. m. and we have time to ride 
on the trolleys in all directions, arriving at the boat at about 
6.30. It was a feature to see the colored longshoremen loading 
the boat with produce for the Northern market — the produce 
coming down the James on small boats and yachts, half a dozen 
in a bunch, pulled by a small tug. Norfolk is full of life and 
enterprise, more like our Northern cities than any place we had 
found. Her citizens are full of that genial hospitality which we 
found in Petersburg and in fact all along our trip. Our boat is 
late in loading and it is [) ]). m. l)efore we start for the North- 
land. 

37 



As we passed the light at Cape Charles we ran into a fog and 
the captain was obHged to whistle once a minute till almost day- 
break. Many of us were awake all night, but the day broke 
bright and clear, the sun shone forth in all its glory. Old ocean 
was calm and our journey to the end was destined to be the 
most pleasant and agreeable part, .\bout lo a. m. of Friday, 
the 24th, a n'.eeting was called in the dining-room. Comrade 
Hart presiding. 

On board S. S. Howard. Friday, May 24. 1901, 10.05 ^- ^'^'^■ 

Excursionists called to order in the Dining Hall. 

Comrade Hart in chair. 

Vote of thanks to Capt. Ziba Nickerson for courtesies re- 
ceived. 

Vote of thanks to Steward H. J. Lange for our excellent 
menu. 

Vote of thanks to Col. Hart and Secretary Gardner. 

Comrade Hawkins advocates the future meeting of excursion- 
ists. 

Comrade Hawkins advocates the souvenir list of excursionists. 

Comrade Gardner promises list. 

Remarks by Comrades Kingsbury, Cole, White and others 
complimentary to the committee and the complete success of 
the trip. Col. Hart invites all the friends to attend Regimental 
reunion at Salisbury Beach in August. Adjourned with cheers 
for the Merchant & Miners S. S. Line. 

As we drew up to the wharf and the party who had been to- 
gether for eleven days were about to separate, the evidences of 
the pleasure of our excursion were plentiful. The hearty grasp 
of the hand and the invitations to visit were the order of the 
hoiu': every one seemed to be pleased and delighted with the 
trip and the new acquaintances formed. Not an accident, not 
a package lost, no one sick, not a hitch on the program from 
start to finish, and better than all, not a "growl" was heard dur- 
ing the whole trip. For this excellent good fortune the com- 
mittee feel that it is proper to express to the members of 
the excursion their appreciation of their courteous deportment 
and kindly disposition. May we meet soon around the festive 
board and renew the friendships so fairly begun. 



38 



FIRST MASS. HEAVY ARTILLERY. 

Col. J. W. Hart Salem, Mass., Co. L 

Henry M. Hawkins Boston, Mass., Co. C 

A. S. Forbes Haverhill, Mass., Co. B 

S. F. Treat Cohasset, Mass., Co. I 

J. W. Gardner Boston, Mass., Co. K 

I. P. Bradley Boston, Mass., Co. B 

Geo. W. Lewis Melrose Highlands, Mass., Co. F 

Jos. Arnold Boston, Mass., Co- B 

Austin F. Carter Hyde Park, Mass., Co. F 

Wm. Hart Worcester, Mass., Co. FI 

Chas. R. Brown So. Lancaster, Mass., Co. D 

P. H. O'Connell Danvers, Mass., Co. E 

Geo. F. Tibbetts No. Cambridge, Mass., Co. K 

Chas. Greene Ballardvale, Mass., Co. H 

David B. Burnham Essex, Mass., Co. E 

Amos Southwick Lawrence, Mass., Co. K 

John Metzgar Danvers, Mass., Co. I 

N. B. M. Ingalls Lynn, Mass., Co. G 

.Edward Eaton Wakefield, Mass., Co. L 

Ira F. Trask Wenham, Mass., Co. I 

J. P. Batcheller Lynn, Mass., Co. M 

Lewis G. Holt Lawrence, Mass., Co. H 

Wni. H. Morgan Beverly, Mass., Co. D 

Geo. B. White Boston, Mass., Co. H 

LADIES. 

Mrs. John W. Hart, Mrs. Henry M. Hawkins. Mrs. A. S. Forbes, 
Mrs. S. F. Treat. Mrs. J. L. Stone, Mrs. Albert Munsey, Mrs. Sarah A. 
Kimball, Mrs. Helen Morse, Mrs. Mary Lindsay, Mrs. J. W. Gardner. 
Mrs. G. S. Gibson, Airs. Col. Shatswell, Mrs. P. D. Smith. Misses Smith. 

VETERANS. 

Albert Munsey Lynn, Mass., 4th Mass. H. Art. 

A. W. Fessenden Lynn, Mass.. Co. C, 43d Mass. 

John \\'. Sanljorn Hyde Park. A[ass., S. S. Kearsarge 

Chas. F. Hartshorne Wakefield, Mass., 50th Mass. 

.Andrew Dodge Beverly, Mass., Co. F. 23d Mass. 

J. E. Ricker Cambridge, Mass., N. H. N. G., U. S. Vols. 

N. W. Bunker Cambridge, Mass., 56th Mass. Vet. 

81 



Chas. A. Gay Cambridge, Mass., ist Mass. Cav., 47th Mass. Vols. 

Glass McNair Lynn, Mass., Co. C, 6th N. Y. H. Art. 

Martin Murray Beverly, Mass., Co. C, 17th Mass. 

CITIZENS. 

J. L. Stone, Boston, Mass.; James Russell, Boston, Mass.; Harry- 
Hawkins, Boston, Mass.; Leland H. Cole, Salem, Mass.; Sammie Cole,. 
Salem, Mass.; Fred Kingsbury, Dedham, Mass.; John T. Deegan, 
Boston, Mass.; Geo. A. Lougee, Boston, Mass-; Wilbur H. Weston,. 
Newburg, N. Y. ; Henry F. Swett, Boston, Mass. 

JOINED US AT FREDERICKSBURG. 

Col. N. Shatswell, Washington, D. C; Peter D. Smith, Co. H. An- 
dover, Mass.; Geo. A. Bartlett, Co. K, Washington, D. C. ; Chas. Bur- 
rows, Co. K, Rutherford, N. J.; Jerry F. Donovan, Co. F, Philadel- 
phia, Pa.; Thomas J. Putnam, Co. D, Washington, D. C. ; G. S. Gibson, 
Co. F, Clinton, Mass. (at Richmond, Va.) ; Leonard Stoddard, Wash- 
ington, D. C. 

RECAPITULATION. 
First Mass. left Boston, 24 add 7 31 
Ladies left Boston, 
Veterans left Boston, 
Citizens left Boston, 

54 13 67 at Fredericksburg. 



10 


add 5 


IS 


10 




10 


10 


add I 


II 



40 




View of HARRIS HOUSE. 
Left and Rear. 



HISTORICAL SKETCH 



OK THE 



FIRST REGIMENT HEAVY ARTILLERY 
MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 



ORIGINAL ROSTER OF COnniSSIONED OFFICERS 

A N I • 

NON-COnniSSIONED STAFF 

IN 1S61, WITH THE TWO COMPANIES L AND M WHICH WERE ADDED 1S62. 



<J()LONKI. 


WILLIAM B. GKEENE 


Havkkhu,[. 


LiiouT. Cor,., 


SAMUEL C. OLIVEH 


Salem 


Majou 


LEVI P. WRIGHT 


Lawijenck 


Adjutant 


CHARLES F. SIMMONS 


Boston 


QUAKTKKMASTEU 


ANDREW WASHBURN 


W. Newton 


SlTKGEON 


DAVID DANA 


Lawrence 


Ass't Sukgeon 


SAMUEL K. TOWLE 


Havep.hill 


Chaplain 


STEPHEN BARKER 
Non-Commissioned Statf. 


Andovkk 


Skko't Majoi; 


AMOS HENFIELD 


Salem 


Quartermaster Sei 


Ki'T WILLIAM GLASS 


Boston 


Oommissary Sero't 


ARTHUR LEE DREW 


Haverhill 


Hospital Stewako 


JOHN M. PILLSBURY 


Haverhill 


Band Master 


ISAAC A. BOYNTON 


Haverhill 



-Co. A, 

<;o. B, 

■Co. C, 

Co. D, 

Co. E, 

Co. F, 

•Co. G, 

Co. H, 
Co. I, 

Co. K, 



Co. L, 
Co. M, 



Capt. Nathaniel Shatswell 
Capt. Leverett Bradley 
Capt. Alonzo G. Draper 
Capt. Seth S. Buxton 
Capt. Joseph W. Sargent 
Capt. Samuel Langmaid 
Capt. Benjamin Day 
Capt. Horack Holt 
Capt. Arthui: A. Putnam 
Capt. Frank A. Rolfe 

Two Companies added in 1862. 

Capt. Eben A. Andrews 
Capt. Edwaro A. Chandlei; 



Ipswich 

Methukn 

Lynn 

Salem 

Amesburv 

Lawrence 

Marblkhead 

Andover 

Danvers 

Lawrence 



Ipswich 
Lynn 



This Regiment, organized as the 14th Infantry, commonly known 
as the "Essex County Regiment," from its having been mostly 
raised in this part of the State, was mustered into the service of 
the United States, July 5th, 1861, at Fort Warren. On the 7th of 
August it left Fort Warren, Boston Harbor, for Washington, under 
command of Colonel William B. Greene, and upon arriving there, 
was ordered to Camp Kalorama, Meridian Heights, Maryland, 
where it remained until the 18th of the same month, when it was 
ordered to cross the Potomac and garrison Fort Albany, considered 
at that time the key to Washington. Shortly after it was called 
upon to furnish a gariison for Fort Runyon, and the works at the 
head of the Long Bridge. On the 1st of January, 1862, by order 
from the War Department, the regiment was changed from an 
Infantry to a Heavy Artillery Regiment; consequently requiring 
an increase in its number, of fifty men to each company, and two 
additional companies of one hundred and fifty men each, to raise it 
to the standard, which was duly accomplished. Early in April 
following, the regiment was required, in addition to the forts al- 
ready occupied by them, to furnish garrisons for Forts Scott, Rich- 
ardson, Barnard, Craig, and Tillinghast, vacated by infantry regi- 
ments detached for other service. They remained in garrison in 
these Forts until August 23d, when they were ordered to Cloud's 
Mills, where they remained until the 26th, when orders were 
received to march to Manassas, to participate in the Battle of 
Bull Run. While on the march to this point, on the morning of 
the 27th, between Annadale and Fairfax Court House, they were 
met by squads of flying soldiers belonging to the Second New York 
Artillery, who had preceded them the previous day, and who had 
met and were repulsed by Stuart's Cavalry. The regiment kept 
on, passing on their route a long supply train of four or five miles 
in length, belonging to General Bank's army, which had been 
ordered back for safety. When about a mile beyond Fairfax Court 
House they were met by two pieces of the Twelfth New York Bat- 
tery (the remainder having been captured by the enemy), rapidly 
retreating, followed in close pursuit by the enemy's cavalry. 
Colonel Greene ordered them to stop, and placed them in position, 
under the charge of one of his captains, at the same time deploying 
his regiment through the woods on both sides of the road. They 
remained in line all day, and lay on their arms during the follow- 
ing night. Early on the morning of the next day, one of their 
pickets was shot by the enemy and subsequently taken to a house 
in the rear for surgical treatment. While the surgeons were 
engaged in their duty, the house in which they were occupied w^as 
surrounded by the enemy's cavalry and the whole party taken 
prisoners, including the capture of an ambulance, a hospital wagon, 
and a four-horse regimental wagon with their drivers. After 
being taken a few miles the surgeons were unconditionally re- 
leased, and the remainder of the party paroled by the enemy. 
I.ate in the day the Regiment received orders to return to Cloud's 
Mills where they arrived late tlie same evening, having marched 



42 



Beventeen miles in five horns and a lialf. The day following the 
regiment was ordered to garrison Forts Albany, Craig, Tillinghast, 
Woodbury, Whipple, De Kalb, Corcoran, Haggerty, and Bennett. 
Alter doing duty in these forts for more than a week the regi- 
ment was relieved from duty at the three last named. About the 
middle of September Companies H and I were ordered to Maryland 
Heights lor garrison duty; and about a month later Co. C was 
ordered to join them. 

In October, Col. Greene resigned and was succeeded by Col. 
Thos. R. Tannatt. 

The history of the regiment during the year 1863, so honorable 
to Massachusetts, and the officers and men comprising it, is so 
well told in the following letter of Colonel Tannatt, and the Reports 
of Major Rolfe and Major Holt, that nothing need be added. 



IIi;ai)-<^i AKiKiis KiKST M.\s.s. Hkavv Ahtii,lki:y, 
Four WiiiPiM.K, Va., Jan. 1, 1864. 

Geneial: — Your recniest for data to embody in your Annual 
Report, has been deferred in order to obtain a correct account of 
the nature of service performed by the battalion then serving at 
Maryland Heights, but since returned to the regiment. 

Notice of my Lransfer from the Sixteenth to this regiment 
reached me a few days prior to the first l)attle of Fredericksburg. 
At the request of my old and esteemed otRcers I remained with 
the Sixteenth until the return of the army to Falmouth, joining 
this rec;infent for duty, .lanuary 1st, 1863. Upon assuming com- 
mand, I found certain reforms necessary, but passing to the 
pieser.t rime. I will but leniark, that the regiment is to-day held in 
high esteem for its pioriciency in drill, good discipline, and military 
appearance. With the exception of a transfer of three companies 
from lesser Forts to Foil Whii)ple, the largest and most complete 
earthwork in the defences of Washington, no change has been 
made in the station of the eight companies here on duty. 

Companies B, C, H, and I, detached until December 1, 1863, 
have Feen service alike creditable to the officers and men. Com- 
pany I was in the battle of Winchester, gaining much praise for 
their good conduct, and artillery skill; being ordered by General 
Milroy to remain and spike the guns left by his command. Cap- 
tain Martin and forty men were taken priscmers; the men are 
exchanged and again on duty; Captain Martin is in Libby prison. 

The regiment has performed a vast amount of labor during the 
year, having erected fine quarters for officers and men; com- 
pleted and occupied one forty-three-gun fort, besides erecting three 
large bomb-prcjof barracks, capable of quartering the men. 

The system of promoting from the ranks has in no case been set 
aside, but preceded by a thorough examination of such sergeants 
as desired to compete for commissions. This system, extended 
to the issue of warrants, has given to the regiment a valuable class 
of jiinior offlccMs. correct in ha])its, and efficient in drill and com- 



43 



niand, whilst the scale ot wanant officers has reached a highly 
desirable degree ot proficiency. During the year, twenty-one vacan- 
cies in the roster of officers have Ijeen well filled by the promotion 
ol' sergeants. 

Finding the records of the regiment very defective, some time 
elapsed before your office could be furnished with the returns so 
necessary to you. During the presence of the rebel army in Penn- 
sylvania, the troops of this command were called upon to picket in 
front of their line, thus doing the doul)le duty of infantry and 
artillery. Several marches to the assistance of points threatened 
by guerillas, proved that, although garrison troops, the men were 
ever ready for any duty regardless of exposure. A more careful 
performance of picket duty I have yet to see. 

Since joining this regiment I have been much of the time called 
upon to command the brigade, of which the regiment forms a part, 
and for two months the line of defences south of the Potomac, 
retaining command in my regiment during the time, thus being 
obliged to leave undone many things necessary in my immediate 
command. 

Your attention is called to the enclosed Reports from Majors 
Rolfe and Holt. 

In closing 1 desire to convey to his Excellency and yourself, 
my personal thanks for the uniform courtesy extended to me upon 
all points of interest to the men of my command. 

In no case has political or social influence been allowed to 
govern the position, promotion, or conduct of any officer or sol- 
dier, but a clear and conscientious consideration has greatly as- 
sisted me in my feeble efforts to make my regiment capable of 
maintaining an honorable place among the troops sent from Massa- 
chusetts. This regiment is not filled by recruits; a large proportion 
of the old and original members having re-enlisted. Of the present 
condition of the regiment it is more proper that others should 
speak. 

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

THOS. R. TANNATT, 
Colonel First Mass. Heavy Artillery. 
To General Wm, Schoulici:, 

Adjutant- General of Massachusetts. 



HKAI)-QuAI!TI<:i{S, 2l» B.\TTAI,ION, IST MASS. H. A., 
FoKT \Vooi>TiUKV, Va,, Jan. 8, 1864. 
Sir: — In accordance with the Colonel's orders of the 1st instant, 
I have the honor to make the following report of the marches, 
etc., made by my former command, First Battalion, First Massa- 
chusetts Heavy Artillery, while on detached service. 

On the 27th of September, 1862, in accordance with orders 
received from Major-General McClellan, through intermediate 
head-quarters. I proceeded by rail with Companies H and 

44 



I, to Harper's Ferry, Va., and reported to Major-Geueral 
E. V. Stimner, commanding post. He directed me to march my 
command up on Maryland Heights, and report to Brigadier-General 
A. S. Williams, commanding Twelfth Corps, and get the heavy 
guns, which had been spiked and rolled down the heights (by 
order of Colonel Miles, about twelve days previous), ready for use 
as soon as possible. Arriving upon the heights at a position known 
as the Naval Battery, we found the heavy guns to be two nine-inch 
.]. A. 1). guns, and one fifty-pounder J. A. D. gun, all spiked, dis- 
mounted and rolled down the heights, fifteen or twenty feet from 
their platforms. 

Not having suitable machines for mounting the guns, we went 
into the woods, cut down trees, and made blocks, and with them 
succeeded in getting the guns in position, and mounting them on 
their carriages. While lieutenant Guilford, in command of a few 
men. was getting the spikes out of the guns, others were hunting 
in the woods and bushes for the broken implements and equip- 
ments, which we repaired sufficiently to serve the guns with. Some 
ammunition was found in a tent near by, which had been but 
l)avtially destroyed, and was prepared for use. On the evening of 
the fourth day after we arrived there, I reported to General Sum- 
ner that the guns were ready for use. 

Two twenty-pounder batteries from the artillery reserve of the 
Army of the Potomac were stationed near the Naval Battery when 
we arrived there, but they were ordered away a few days after 
we got the heavy guns ready for use. Our tents were not pitched 
for a week or ten days, because every man was employed in get 
ting the guns in order, and the ground we wanted was occupied 
by the batteries; but the weather was exceedingly fair. 

Requisitions were then made for the necessary ordnance, com- 
missary, and quartermaster stores, which I succeeded in getting 
without much trouble. There being no magazines for the ammuni- 
tion, we commenced on four small ones immediately after the 
guns were in position. Two or three days after we got the naval 
guns in position I received several Parrott guns from Washington 
Arsenal. These were placed in position at the Naval Battery. 

October 27, 1862. Captain A. G. Draper reported to me with his 
company (C). and a few days after commenced on a new battery 
mow Port Duncan), and several Parrott guns that arrived a few 
days after the company did, were put in temporary i)osition near it. 
December 23, 1862, Captain C. S. Heath reported to me with his 
company (B). which was sent to the top of the heights, one thous- 
and and sixty-five feet above the Potomac River, to build the 
Howitzer Battery, with five boat howitzers I had received a few 
weeks previous. 

.January 23, 1863, Assistant-Surgeon E. B. Mason, of our regi- 
ment, reported to me; previous to which time the sick of the bat- 
talion had been attended by assistant-surgeons detailed from regi- 
ments stationed near us. From the time we arrived at Harper's 
Ferry, Va., until the 10th of .Tune, 1863, the battalion was employed 



45 



most of the time in buildinjj batteries, magazines, and barracks, 
putting guns in position, repairing roads, and hauling up supplies 
of all kinds. 

June 10th Company 1 was ordered to Winchester. For an 
account of the doings of the company from that time until it 
arrived at Harper's Ferry, Va., I refere you to Lieutenant J. B. 
Hanson's Report. Nearly all of Company I, except those who 
were taken prisoners (Captain and forty-four men), arrived at 
Maryland Heights on the 16th and 17th of June, in an exhausted 
and destitute condition. Some of the men arrived back via Harris- 
burg. Pa., near the last of the month. Lieutenants Hoppin and 
Holt arrived on the 16th, and as fast as the men came in, got them 
together and supplied their wants. A few days after. Company I 
started for Winchester. Captain Hawkins, of the Eighth New York 
Artillery, repoj'ted to me with his company (F), from Baltimore, 
and was sent to the battery left by Company I. It being a small 
company, as soon as Company I arrived from Winchester and got 
rested, I sent it to his old battery, to assist the New York company 
in case of an attack. 

We were expecting an attack from the 16th of June to the 1st 
of July, — the day we evacuated. A great many changes were made 
at the batteries just previous to the evacuation, and a portion of 
the battalion worked day and night. The battalion, with a very 
little assistance, built before the evacuation, log barracks for two 
companies, twelve magazines, and four batteries, hauled up thirty- 
five pieces of artillery, and two hundred and twenty tons of 
ammunition of the best quality, besides a large amount of quarter- 
master and commissary stores. 

June 29th, received orders to evacuate Maryland Heights, and 
destroy everything but the guns. During the night hauled the 
guns away from Fort Duncan and Howitzer Battery, and destroyed 
the ammunition. 

June 30th, hauled the guns down from the Thirty-Pounder 
Battery, destroyed the ammunition, and loaded a part of the guns 
from the three batteries dismantled, aboard canal-boats. While 
destroying the ammunition at Fort Duncan, a shell exploded, and 
Sergeant E. J. Graham, privates Wni. Bachellor and J. M. Cutter, 
Company C, were wounded, the sergeant badly. Also, while 
destroying the ammunition at Thirty-Pounder Battery, an explo- 
sion occurred outside the battery, killing five or six, and wounding 
eight or ten. No one of this regiment was injured at the last 
explosion. Both explosions were the results of excitement and 
carelessness. The battalion was ordered to march with General 
Kenley's (Maryland) brigade, Init subsequently was ordered to 
remain behind until all the guns (except a few old ones, which 
were to be left, to protect the retreat of General Elliott's brigade, 
having in charge the good guns), were loaded upon the canal-boats. 
Those guns for the protection of General Elliott were in charge 
of Captain Horace Holt. 

July 1st, about 10 o'clock, all the guns having been loaded, and 



46 



put ill charge of General Elliott's brigade, 1 marched with Com- 
panies B, C, and I, of this regiment, and Company F, of the Eighth 
New York Artillery, about fourteen miles towards Frederick, Mary- 
land, and bivouacked for the night. This was a hard march for 
the battalion, as it was a very hot day, the road very muddy, and 
a part of the men had been obliged to work thirty-six hours, just 
before starting, in mud and water; their feet became soft and 
tender, and the men were not used to marching. Before starting 
on the march, all the sick and wounded were put aboard canal- 
boats, and went safely to Washington, and shortly after nearly all 
reported to regimental head-quarters. 

July 2d, marched to Frederick, and reported to Brigadier- 
General Kenley. At 4 o'clock, P. M., the same day, marched with 
Tenth Vermont Regiment and Tenth Massachusetts Battery to 
Frederick Junction. Just as we were starting, Captain Holt ar- 
rived with his company, and, being very tired, was allowed to 
remain in Frederick until next morning, when he was directed to 
report to me at Fi-ederick Junction. July -Ith, received orders to 
leave two companies of my command to guard the Junction, and 
march with the other three to Frederick, and guard the public 
property and approaches to the town. After marching about half 
way to Frederick the order was countermanded, and the battalion 
marched back to the Junction. 

July 7th, sent Captain Holt and his company to Maryland 
Heights, by rail, by order of Major-General French. For an 
account of the doings of Company H, from the time it was left on 
Maryland Heights until it joined the battalion at Frederick Junc- 
tion, and from the time it left Frederick Junction until it joined 
the battalion again, on the Boonsboro' and Hagerstown turnpike, 
I refer you to Captain Holt's Report, enclosed herewith. 

July 8th, sent Company F, Eighth New York Artillery, to Mary- 
land Heights to relieve Captain Holt's company, by order of Major- 
General French, and then marched through Frederick towards 
Middletown, until 9 o'clock in the evening, when we bivouacked 
for the night, and in the morning started for Middletown, which 
place we reached about 9 o'clock A. M. After resting a short time, 
marched towards South Mountain Pass, which place we reached 
about noon. In the evening we marched through the pass, in the 
rear of the Third Corps, and bivouacked for the night. July 10th, 
marched through Kedersville and bivouacked for the night on the 
road to Sharpsburg, one mile from Kedersville, and in rear of the 
Third Corps. 

July 11th, marched through Boonsboro', to near head-quarters 
Third Corps, on Williamsport road, two miles from Boonsboro'. 
and reported to Major-General French, who ordered me to report to 
Brigadier-General Hunt, Chief of Artillery, Army of the Potomac. 
The battaion was assigned by him to duty with the artillery reserve, 
Brigadier-General R. O. Tyler, commanding. Marched to the camp 
of artillery reserve on the Boonsboro' and Hagerstown Turnpike, 
three miles from Boonsboro', and reported to General Tyler. In 



47 



the evening Captain Holt joined the battalion with his company. 

July 12th, detailed one hundred and forty-eight men for the 
different batteries of the reserve, by order of General Tyler. Cap- 
tain Fuller, Thirty-Second Massachusetts Volunteers, with his 
company, was temporarily attached to my command. July 13th, 
marched with the reserve about eight miles towards Williamsport, 
and then marched back to near camp left in the morning. In the 
evening detailed forty men to report to Captain Robinson, Fourth 
Maine Battery, by order of General Tyler. 

July 15th. marched through Boonsboro", Middletown, and Jeffer- 
son, to within two miles of Berlin, Maryland. On the 18th. marched 
from Berlin across Potomac River, through Lovettsville to within 
a mile of Wheatland. Va. On the 19th, marched through Wheat- 
land to Purcellville. On the 2oth, marched to Union. On the 21st, 
all men detailed into batteries, ordered by General Meade to be 
sent back to their companies, and I was ordered to march with 
the battalion to Harper's Ferry, Va., and report to the command- 
ing officer. 

On the 22d. all men detailed in batteries, except eighteen of 
Company B, detailed in Company C, Fifth United States Artillery, 
and ordered to New York with the battery, arrived, and the bat- 
talion marched through Purcellville, Wheatland, and Lovettsville 
to Berlin. On the 23d, marched on the tow-path of the canal to 
Harper's Ferry, Va., and reported to Brigadier-General H. H. Lock- 
wood, commanding post. The Eighth New York Artillery was oc- 
cupying our old batteries, and had mounted the guns Captain Holt's 
company had spiked and rolled down the heights. The battalion 
went into camp near the Naval Battery. 

On the 25th, the battalion was ordered to occupy Fort Duncan. 
On the 27th, the Eighth New York Artillery were ordered to vacate 
the batteries, and the battalion to re-occupy them. I was directed 
to inspect the works on Maryland Heights, report upon their con- 
dition and take measures to get guns and ammunition, and put the 
works in the best possible condition. 

On the 29th, I was sent to Washington by General Lockwood, 
with a letter to Generals Ripley and Barry (Chief of Ordnance, 
and Inspector of Artillery), requesting that the guns I might call 
for l)e sent to Maryland Heights as soon as possible. The arma- 
ment I suggested was approved, and ordered to be sent immedi- 
ately; and the old guns and material left on the heights at the 
evacuation gathered up and sent to Washington Arsenal. I imme- 
diately went back to Maryland Heights, and set the battalion to 
work gathering up the two hundred tons of ammunition it had 
destroyed a month previous, had it hauled down from the heights, 
and, with the old guns spiked by Captain Holt's company, loaded 
aboard cars, and sent to Washington Arsenal. At the same time 
the new guns and ammunition arrived. The guns were hauled up 
liy the men. — from 200 to 500 being required to haul up each gun. 
A part of the new guns were put in the old batteries, and the rest 
on new and commanding positions, and batteries built around them. 



48 



Nearly the whole month of August was spent in replacing what 
had been destroyed in three days in June. 

August 11th, an order was received discharging Assistant-Sur- 
geon E. B. Mason, to receive an appointment in the Second Massa- 
chusetts Cavalry, l^rom that time the sick of the battalion were 
attended by assistant-surgeons detailed from regiments around us, 
until August 24th, when Assistant-Surgeon Samuel L. Button of our 
Regiment leported to me. 

October 14th, thirty-six men of Company I, captured at Win- 
chester, reported to their company from Parole Camp, Annaix)lis, 
Md. From the time we arrived back at Harper's Ferry, until we 
were relieved by the Third Battalion, Fifth New York Artillery, on 
the 30th day of November, and ordered to report to regimental 
head-quarters, our duty was the same as before the evacuation, 
viz. building batteries, magazines, barracks, etc. In all the moving 
of guns which the battalion did, some of which was in the night, 
only one accident occurred, the circumstances of which are as 
follows : 

On the first of August, 1863, two hundred men were hauling a 
thirty-pounder Farrott gun up a very steep, rough place. It was a 
very long, hard pull, and when the gun arrived at the top, and 
commenced to go easy, the men gave a cheer, and started on the 
run. Private William H. Wardwell, Company H, who was pulling 
on the rope near the gun, fell down, and the men being crowded 
on the rope, broke his hold, and, before the gun could be stopped, 
fell under the wheels of the gun carriage, and was killed. 

In order to appreciate the difficulties under which the battalion 
labored, it must be known that the batteries were situated from 
250 to 1065 feet above the river, and the roads leading to them very 
rocky, steep, and croo)<;ed, and barely wide enough for a wagon. 
Over these roads the guns, ammunition, and supplies of all kinds 
were hauled. Several times during the winter it was impossible 
to get down the mountain with a team for several days in succes- 
sion, on account of the steep places in the road being covered 
with ice. 

During the whole time the battalion was on detached service, 
officers and men obeyed all orders given them, cheerfully and 
promptly, and evinced a desire to practise upon the enemy with 
what they had studied for two years and a half, and gain a little 
honor for the regiment, so that in July next, when the regiment 
is mustered out of service, it could not be said that the largest 
regiment in the United States service served a three-years' enlist- 
ment without even seeing a rebel in arms, while every other regi- 
ment from the State had participated in one or more of the glorious 
achievements of the war, covered itself with gory, and reflected 
honor upon the old Bay State. 

Earnestly hoping that in the spring our regiment will be ordered 
to active duty with our arm of the service. 

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

FRANK A. ROLFE, 
Major, First Maxs. Heavy Artillei-y, ComTtianding. 

49 



REPORT OF MAJOR HORACE HOLT. 

FoKT Whipple, Va., Jan. 9, 1864. 

I have the honor to respectfuly submit the following report of 
the operations, marches ,etc., of Company H, First Massachusetts 
Heavy Artillery, while detached from the first battalion of said 
regiment of which you were in command at Maryland Heights, Md. 

When General French evacuated Maryland Heights, on the first 
of July, 1863, Company H, which I had the honor of commanding, 
was detailed to remain in charge of some heavy guns that were 
left upon the heights to cover the retreat, as large quantities of 
ordnance and quarter-master's stores were being shipped upoa 
canal-boats to Washington for safe keeping. After you had left 
the heights with General French, I reported (as directed) to Gen- 
eral Elliott, who was in charge of the shipping of the stores, and 
with his brigade guards the canal-boats to Washington. He gave 
me orders to remain at the guns till dark that night, then to 
"spike" my guns and destroy the ammunition, and march for Fred- 
erick City, Md. As I was about to "spike," I received orders from 
General Elliott to delay a few hours, as it was reported the enemy 
were advancing from the direction of Sharpsburg to destroy the 
canal-boats and stores. 1 accordingly delayed until past ten 
o'clock; saw no enemy, and learned the boats and all the troops 
were out of range of my guns. I then "spiked" and otherwise 
destroyed, and marched for Frederick City, Md., as directed. Seven 
miles out from Sandy Hook we came up with Captain Pengaskill, 
with a company of engineers and a small train of wagons, en- 
camped for the night. Glad was Company H to join them. 

The next morning (July 2d), marched for Frederick City, where 
we arrived at five o'clock P. M., all safe, but very much fatigued; 
but found your command in line, and about to march for Fred- 
erick Junction. As 1 reported to you the condition of my com- 
pany from fatigue, you obtained permission for us to remain at 
Frederick City that night. Next morning we joined you at Fred- 
erick Junction. On the evening of the sixth of July. I received 
orders from you to proceed with Company H to Maryland Heights 
again. I obtained transportation on the Baltimore and Ohio Rail- 
road, in open cars, attached to a train of four iron-clad cars; 
each car was armed with a light field-piece, without the gun car- 
riages; the pieces were slung with ropes from the top of the cars, 
and served through port-holes. The train was in charge of Lieu- 
tenant Meigs, of U. S. A., with orders to run up the railroad as far 
as Harper's Ferry, and learn the condition of the road and tele- 
graph wires. 

We left Frederick Junction at 8 o'clock, A. M., July 7th ; arrived 
at Sandy Hook, Md.. about 3 P. M., where we found Brigadier- 
General John R. Kenley, with the Maryland Brigade, just coming 
in from Frederick City. He immediately ordered Lieutenant Meigs 
and myself, with Company H, up to the Harper's Ferry bridge, to 
cover the advance of his brigade past the bridge and up the 
heights. On our arrival at the bridge we found the enemy strongly 

50 



posted, on the Harper's Ferry side, behind the railroad and ohl 
brick walls. As the brigade arrived, they (the rebels) opened 
with musketry. I ordered Lieutenant Carter, of Company H, with 
twenty men, to deploy as skirmishers along the Maryland bank 
of the river, under cover of timbers, rocks, etc., and Lieutenant 
Meigs opened fire with a twevle-pound howitzer; but as he could 
not bring his rear cars up to get range with the guns, he let me 
have two six-pounder brass pieces. I ordered Lieutenant Guilford, 
of Company H, to take them out of the cars, and rig them on logs 
in the road, for shelling the town. Lieutenant Guilford accordingly 
took two gun detachments of Company H, and in ten minutes the 
guns were both rigged, each trunnion resting upon a log, using a 
piece of plank for a quoin, and the rebels were soon made to quit 
their hiding-])lace and get out of range. Quite a brisk skirmish was 
kept up until dark that night. 

There were seventeen men wounded in the Maryland Brigade; 
Company H came out without a scratch. On the 8th, Company F, 
of the Eighth New York Heavy Artillery, reported from Frederick 
Junction, with orders relieving me, and ordering me to join you at 
Middletown, Md. As I was about to march with my company, 1 
received orders from Brigadier-General Naglee (who had just ar- 
rived and assumed command of the forces at Maryland Heights), 
to remain at the bridge, as he had orders to hold all troops that 
were then in his command. The next morning (9th) I received 
ordeis from General Naglee to march my company up to the Naval 
Battery, and occupy my old quarters, and put the heavy guns in 
position that I had spiked, by order of General Elliott, at the time 
of the first evacuation. On the morning of the 10th, I received 
orders from General Naglee to march with Brigadier-General Ken- 
ley's brigade (who was then under orders to report at Boonsboro', 
Md.), and report to you as soon as I could find you. I was accord- 
ingly attached to the Eighth Maryland Regiment, under Colonel 
Denison. We marched that day to Boonsboro', Md. The next day 
(11th) we marched about seven miles beyond Boonsboro', halted, 
and commenced throwing up breastworks, as an attack was hourly 
expected. At 3 o'clock, P. M., same day. you rode into camp, and 
had me relieved from the Maryland Brigade. I joined your bat- 
talion, then attached to the reserve artillery of the Army of the 
Potomac, camped by the Boonslioro" Pike. 

With regrets that the First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery 
cannot show upon her records an equal share of gallant deeds upon 
the battle-field with other Massachusetts regiments, and hoping yet 
that we shall have an opportunity of relieving an equal number of 
worn-out heroes from the front, and they have an opportunity of 
resting from long-continued hardships behind these breastworks on 
Arlington Heights, or some place equally safe. 

With great respect. Major, I am yours, etc., 

HORACE HOLT, 
Major First Mass. Heavy Artillery. 
To Major Fkank A. Roi.fk, First Mass. Ileauy Artillery. 

51 



EXTRACTS FROM CAPT. W. F. MARTINS AND LT. J. H. HAN- 
SON, OF CO. I. 

Weduesday, June 10, 186:), Co. I, 1st Mass. H. Ait. left "30 Pd. Bat- 
tery" at Maryland Heights for Winchester, Va., arriving on the evening 
of the 11th, reported to Gen'l Milroy and assigned to garrison Flag- 
Fort, (four 24 pd. Brass Howitzers). The 12tli reported to Gen'l Elliott. 
13th tired about 70 shells (range 1,000 yards) many of which were 
effective. 14th the enemy surrounded the town, skirmishing and 
shelling all day; in the afternoon a reconuoisance was made by a regi- 
ment of infantry, a squadron of cavalry and Lt. Hanson with two 
detachments of coujpany I — with a 24 pd. Howitzer all under the 
command of Col. Ely, 18th Conn., killing a rebel captain anil capturing 
eleven prisoners (3 men wounded in Co. I). At 5 p. m., the enemy 
opened with all his artillery making an assault on Flag Fort, which 
was repelled. Sunday night (14th) after a council of war Gen'l Milroy 
concluded to evacuate. On the ir)th at 1 p. m. the general ordered a 
retreat, Co. I to remain and spike the guns and destroy the ammuni- 
tion, which was faithfully done. About four miles from the town 
the troops found Rodes Div. of Ewells Corps and after a brisk tight 
of an hour our troops surrendered, among them were ("apt. Martins 
and 44 men of Co. I, — the balance of the company under Lt. Hanson 
succeeded in eluding the enemy and arrived at the Heights in due 
time, 36 of the 44 captured arrived from Camp Parole, Oct. 14th. 
Capt. Martins was paroled in the middle of March 1864, in time to 
lose a leg on May 19. G. 



The Regiment continued to occupy a portion of the fortifications 
of Washington, south of the Potomac, until the 15th of May, 1864. 
During the time it was engaged in performing garrison duty, It 
accomplished a great deal in building fortifications, mounting and 
dismounting heavy guns, and moving ordnance from one fortifica- 
tion to another. In addition it was employed in building and 
repairing military roads and bridges on each side of the several 
fortifications, etc. 

May 15th, 1864. The regiment marched to Alexandria (five 
miles), with orders to join the Army of the Potomac. Took trans- 
ports the same day for Belle Plain. Arrived at Belle Plain the 
16th. Disembarked and bivouacked on the ridge near the landing. 
Reported to Biigadier-General R. O. Tyler, and was assigned to 
the Second Brigade of his (Tyler's) Division (Colonel Tannatt 
commanding), composed mainly of heavy artillery regiments from 
the fortifications of Washington and Baltimore. 

(For operations during May 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th, seo His- 
torical add less l)y Comrade Bradley at the dedication of the Monu- 
ment on the Battle Field of Spootsylvania.) 

Marched at 1, A. M., May 21st, taking the road to Milford. 
Passed through Bowling Green at 11, A. M. Arrived at Milford, 
crossed the river, and bivouacked for the night, marching twenty- 
eight miles. Threw up breastworks on the 22d. '23d. Marched at 
6, A. M. Arrived at the North Anna River (sixteen miles) at 3, 

52 



p. M. The regiment was held as reserve, the men lying on their 
arms all night. 

May 24th, battle of North ^\nna River; held as reserve. Cas- 
ualties, one enlisted man killed and eleven wounded. The brigade 
organizations of our division being broken up, each regiment was 
divided into three battalions, each to act as a regiment in all 
movements. 

May 27th, marc he d at 3.30. A. M. Massed in a field about one 
mile in rear of first line. Sent out pioneers to destroy the bridge 
that crossed the river above the enemy's position. Had two men 
wounded while destroying the bridge. 12, M., marched down the 
north bank of the river. Bivouacked at 2, A. M., of the 28th, hav- 
ing marched twenty-two miles. Marched again at 9, A. M. Crossed 
the Pamunkey River on pontoons below Hanover Court House. 
Bivouacked for the night about three miles from the river on the 
extreme left of the line (distance marched, fifteen miles). 29th. 
Was ordered to report to Major-General D. B. Birney, commanding 
Third Division, Second Army Corps, and assigned to the Second 
Brigade, Colonel Tannatt taking command. Marched at 12, M. 
Joined the brigade and went into position near Salem Church. 
Threw up breastworks in the afternoon. Moved to the right, and 
threw up works during the night. 

May 31st, battle of Tolopotomy. Regiment held as reserve in 
the morning at 9, A. M. Moved to the front. Threw forward a 
heavy skirmish line and occupied the enemy's works. Lay under 
a heavy fire of artillery all day. Casualties, five enlisted men 
wounded on the line and three missing from the picket line. 

June 1st, at daylight withdrew to position occupied the previous 
morning. Changed position frequently during the day. At 10, 
P. M., marched for Cold Harbor. Arrived at Gaines' Farm at 2, 
P. M., of 2d. 

June 2d, weather very hot and the roads dusty. Distance 
marched, twenty-seven miles. 

June 3d, battle of Cold Harbor. Four companies, viz. B, F, H. 
and K, reported to Colonel Smythe, commanding Third Brigade, 
Second Division, Second Army Corps. Were engaged in the charge 
on the enemy's works in the morning and the repulse of the enemy 
in his night charge. 

From .Tune 4th to 12th occupied a position on the Shady Grove 
Road, near Barker's Mills. Under fire nearly all the time. Two 
enlisted men killed, thirteen wounded and sixteen missing. At 
10, P. M., of the 12th, withdrew from our position, and marched 
to the left at 7, A. M. .Tune 13th. Crossed the York River Rail- 
road at Despatch Station. Cros^sed the Chickahominy at Long 
Bridge, at 3. P. M. Marched all day. At 10. P. M., massed near 
the James River for the night (distance, thirty-three miles). 

June 14th, crossed the .Tames River near Fort Powhattan in 
transports. 

June l.'ith, marched for PKersburg. Arrived at the fortifica- 
tions near the Dunn House shortly after the charge and capture 



53 



of the same by the colored troops (distance, twenty-three miles). 
Threw up works during the night. 

June 16th, charged the enemy's works in our tront at sunset. 
Were repulsed with heavy loss; viz. two commissioned officers 
killed, six wounded, twenty-three enlisted men killed, one hundred 
and twenty-six wounded, and five missing. Held our position until 
morning, when by flank movements to the right and left, the enemy 
were obliged to fall back. Loss, 17th, nine enlisted men wounded. 

June 18th, charged the enemy's works near the Hare House at 
sunrise. Carried the works, driving the enemy through the woods 
and across the Petersburg Pike to a rear line of works. At 12, M., 
another charge was ordered, which failed for want of proper sup- 
port. Held our position on the pike until 5, P. M., when the 
brigade was relieved, and moved to the left of the Hare House, and 
threw up works during the night, where we remained until the 
night of the 20th, imder fire day and night. Casualties from 17th 
to 20th, including the battle of the 18th, six commissioned officers 
wounded, four enlisted men killed and forty-five wounded. On the 
night of the 20th orders were received to go to the rear. 

(We had now become a part of the Second Brigade, General 
Byron R. Pierce, Commander, Third Division, General Mott, Com- 
manding Second Army Corps, under the command of the gallant 
General W. S. Hancock. The regiments composing the Brigade 
were the First Massachusetts H. A., Fifth Michigan, Fifty-Seventh, 
Eighty-Fourth, One Hundred and Fifth, and One Hundred and 
Forty-First Pennsylvania, and Ninety-Third New York.) 

Jime 21st, orders were received for another of the famous left 
flank movements. At 9 o'clock crossed the Petersburg and Norfolk 
Railroad, taking our course through the woods for the Jerusalem 
plank road, which we struck at the Williams House, finding the 
enemy's cavalry in our front and covering the Weldon Railroad. 

June 22d, advanced with brigade to throw up breastworks 
nearer the enemy's position, a general advance of the whole corps 
being ordered. While engaged in this work we were flanked by 
the enemy breaking through the lines of General Barlow's Divis- 
ion, who were getting into position on our left, in the woods. Cas- 
ualties, one commissioned officer (Captain J. W. Kimball) killed, 
one wounded, and six captured, two of whom were wounded; eight 
enlisted men killed, forty-five wounded, and one hundred and 
seventy-nine captured. 

.luly 6th, the term of service of the original members, and the 
recruits enlisted in July and August, 1862, having expired, the 
regiment was ordered to the rear', to make out the necessary papers 
for the muster out of the men. 

July 12th, the regiment joined the brigade, and moved to the 
left, of the Williams House, to cover the shortening of our lines, 
the Sixth Army Corps having been sent to Washington; remained 
in line of battle forty-eight hours. No enemy appearing, and the 
troops and trains having been withdrawn, the division withdrew 
through the woods, across the Norfolk Railroad to the Petersburg 

54 



and Norfolk turnpike, where the brigade went into camp near the 
Deserted House. July 15th was the first time the regiment had 
iormed camp since leaving the fortifications of Washington, in 
May. 

July 21st, moved to Fort Bross, and remained until July 26th, 
when the regiment marched to Deep Bottom, twenty-four miles, 
arriving on the morning of the 27th at daylight; were immediately 
ordered in as support for a skirmish line of the First Brigade of 
our division, having to cross an open field under the enemy's fire 
of artillery; fortunately, only one man was wounded in this of- 
lair. 28th, marched back to the Petersburg and City Point Rail- 
road, crossing the Appomattox at Point of Rocks (distance 
marched, twenty-two miles) ; lay in mass all day; after dark, took 
up a position in the front line of intrenchments. 30th, occupied a 
position in the front line, about half a mile to the right of the 
mine "exploded in the morning"; had orders to keep up a contin- 
uous fire on the enemy in our front, whose works were about two 
hundred yards distant. The regiment used during the day an 
average of one hundred and fifty rounds per man, with a loss on 
our part of only one man wounded. 31st, returned to our position. 
August 12th, marched to City Point, eight miles. 14th, found us 
up the James River, where we disembarked at Deep Bottom; ad- 
vanced over Strawberry Plain, and bivouacked for the day and 
night. 15th, the brigade reported to Major-General D. B. Birney, 
now commanding the Tenth Army Corps; advanced through the 
woods in line of battle for more than five miles, in the direction 
of the Charles City Road, skirmishing nearly all the way; the 
day was very hot. Casualties during the day, one enlisted man 
killed, seven enlisted men wounded. 16th, the regiment was sta- 
tioned on the right flank of the brigade as skirmishei's. Casualties, 
one enlisted man killed. ISth, returned to front of Petersburg, 
arriving on the morning of the 19th ; distance marched twenty-five 
miles. 

The regiment remained on picket until the 25th of August, when 
it was relieved, and withdrew to near the Strong House. 

September 1st, ordered to the garrison of Fort Alexander Hayes. 
25th, was relieved by a regiment from the Ninth Army Corps, when 
it joined the brigade in rear of the .Tones House on the line of the 
Military Railroad. 

October 1st, the brigade took ears for Warren's Station, marched 
thence to the Peeble's House, near Poplar Grove Church; bivou- 
acked for the night. October 2d, moved out to the left of Peeble's 
House, on the Squirrel-level Road; advanced and occupied the 
works, then steadily advanced, making connection with a division 
of the Ninth Corps, on the right. At 3. P. M., we developed the 
enemy's second line of works. At this time, orders were received 
for our brigade to make a demonstration on the enemy's works, 
to ascertain their strength, and, if possible, carry them. The com- 
mand was formed in a ravine, about five hundred yards from the 
•work, the First occupying the first line. As we advanced, the 

66 



enemy opened a battery that was masked in the angle of his works 
— having a raking fire with canister and spherical case. Gained 
a position about fifty yards from the works; our support not com- 
ing up, were obliged to retire. Casualties, two commissioned 
oflicers wounded, two enlisted men killed, nine wounded, and eight 
wounded and captured. 

October 3d, 4th, and 5th, assisted to build Forts Cummings, 
Emory, Seibut, and Clarke, covering the left and rear of our posi- 
tion at Peeble's House. On the night of the 5th, marched to the 
Jones House, seven miles. 6th, returned to Fort Alexander Hayes; 
remained at Fort Hayes until October 26th, when the regiment 
was relieved; joined the brigade in rear of the Jones House, 
marching thence to the Weldon Railroad, near General Warren's 
Head-quarters, at the Yellow House, and bivouacked for the night. 
On the 27th, marched at daylight, taking the Halifax Road, then to 
the right on the Vaughn Road, reaching the Boydton Plank Road 
at noon. At 2, P. M., the brigade formed in line of battle, sup- 
porting a battery (C, First United States Artillery). At 4, P. M., 
the enemy appeared on our right flank. An attempt was made to 
change front; but the action became general, and the enemy com- 
ing in such numbers that prisoners were captured and recaptured. 
Finding that the enemy could not be checked, the brigade was 
ordered to fall back on to the road, and re-form, leaving one section 
of artillery in the hands of the enemy. Re-forming on the road, the 
left of the First Massachusetts, assisted by volunteers from other 
regiments of the brigade and division, by a quick dash across the 
field secured the section of artillery, and brought it safely off. 
Casualtie.s, one enlisted man killed, six wounded, and twelve cap- 
tured. About thirty more of the regiment were captured, but suc- 
ceeded in making their escape, and reaching our lines after dark. 
28th, withdrew, and marched to the Jones House, returning to Fort 
Alexander Hayes on the 30th. Distance marched, forty-three miles. 
Regiment remained at Fort Hayes until Nov. 28th, when it was 
again relieved. Joined the brigade at the rear, marched thence to 
the extreme left of our line, at the Peeble's House, going into camp 
outside of the works, and near the Vaughn Road, with orders to 
make ourselves as comfortable as possible. 

Supposing that the campaign was ended, and that we were now 
to have winter-quarters, the men went to work with a will, and in 
four days had put up comfortable log-huts, all supplied with fire- 
places, in hopes of remaining to enjoy them; but on the 6th of 
December orders were received to march at daylight of the 7th. 
Accordingly, the division reported to Major-General Warren, com- 
manding Fifth Army Corps, for operation on the Weldon Railroad. 
Marched down the Jerusalem Plank Road, across the Nottaway 
River to Sussex Court House, thence to Jarrett Station, on the 
Weldon Railroad, then down the railroad to Bellfield, burning the 
ties and bending the rails, returning over the same road, arriving 
at the fortifications around Petersburg on the 13th of December. 
The men suffered severely on this raid, as the weather was 



56 



very inclement, many of the men coming back over the frozen 
ground without shoes. Had no engagement on the raid. Four en- 
listed men straggled from the command, and fell into the enemy's 
hands. Distance marched, ninety-six miles. 

The regiment remained in camp in front of Petersburg, near 
the rear line of fortifications between the Halifax and Vaughn 
Roads until Feb. 4th, 1S65, when orders were received to be ready 
to march at daylight of the 5th. Marched in accordance with said 
order, and took part in the battle of Hatcher's Run. The command 
remained as support to the first line until nearly dark, when the 
enemy pressed that line. We were then ordered forward, and 
were hotly engaged for about one hour; casualties, one enlisted 
man wounded. The regiment bivouacked on the field for the night, 
and remained in bivouack the 6th, 7th, and 8th. On the 9th moved 
to Humphries Station, near the Vaughn Road, and went into camp; 
remained in camp until March 25th, when orders were received to 
be ready to move at a moment's notice. Marched at 12, M.; were 
engaged at 4, P. M., near Duncan's Run. The Fifth Michigan and 
First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery were first formed as a sup- 
port for the First Brigade of our division (Third Division, Second 
Army Corps). The First Brigade fell l)ack to the second line, when 
the two regiments were moved forward and held the position of the 
front line, for which they were highly complimented by Genei'als 
Mott and Pierce; casualties during engagement, two enlisted men 
killed, seven wounded. The regiment remained on picket that 
night (after the rest of the brigade had returned to camp), return- 
ing to camp the next night, and remaining in camp until March 
29th, when we marched at 6, A. M., out on the Vaughn Road, cross- 
ing Hatcher's Run, and a smaller run about two miles from it, 
when the brigade was formed in line, and advanced through the 
woods; took the first line of the enemy's works at 6, P. M., it being 
held by a very few men; advanced in line until dark; lay in line 
all night. Advanced again at daylight next morning; found the 
enemy's second line of works deserted; advanced about five hun- 
dred yards, and threw up breastworks under a heavy shell fire 
from a battery in our front, and remained in the works all day. 
At 3, A. M., of the 31st, we moved to the left, and threw up works 
on the right of the Boydton Plank Road. At 12, M., the regiment, 
together with the Fifth ]\Iichigan. were ordered to charge the 
battery in our front, as it was believed to be held by only a few 
men; charged under a heavy fire of artillery and infantry, found 
the abatis and slashing in front of the enemy's works so thick that 
it was impossible to get through; which fact being reported to 
General Pierce, the two regiments were ordered back to their posi- 
tion in the brigade line: casualties in the charge, one enlisted man 
killed (Peleg Swift, of Company A, said to be the oldest man in the 
regiment), and ten wounded. Remained in line until daylight, 
April 2d, when a combined attack of the whole line was ordered; 
advanced, and found the works in our front nearly deserted, the 
enemy having moved off most of their artillery during the night. 

57 



After f-rossing the works, we marched down the Plank Road to the 
AVhitworth House, near the Southside Railroad, formed in line, 
and threw up works under a heavy fire of artillery; casualties, one 
enlisted man killed, two wounded. April 3d, the enemy having 
evacuated their works during the night, the Second Army Corps 
marched in pursuit at G, A. M., taking the road between the Appo- 
mattox River and the South-side Railroad; bivouacked for the 
night at 9.30, P. M.; distance marched, eighteen miles. April 4th, 
marched at H, A. M. At S, A. M., the regiment was detailed to 
repair the road, and assist the artillery and trains to pass; worked 
until dark, then joined the brigade; distance marched, eight miles. 
April 5th, marched at 4, A. M., crossed the Danville Railroad at 8, 
P. M. ; bivouacked for the night at 9, P. M.; distance marched, 
sixteen miles. April 6th, marched at 6, A. M.; at 8, A. M., formed 
in line of battle, the right of the Second Brigade resting on the 
road; advanced in line all day. At 6, P. M., the First and Third 
Divisions, Second Army Corps, charged and captured about three 
hundred wagons and three pieces of artillery. The regiment went 
on picket at night; distance marched, ten miles. April 7th, 
marched at 7, A. M., crossed the Appomattox River at High Bridge, 
found the enemy entrenched about two miles beyond; formed in 
line to charge, lay in line all night; distance marched, seven miles. 
April 8th, marched at 6, A. M., (the enemy evacuated their posi- 
tion during the night), halted at Sydney Church at 1, P. M.; struck 
the Lynchburg Road at 3, P. M., passed through the town of New 
Store at 7, P. M., and halted for the night; distance marched, 
eighteen miles. April 9th, marched at 3.30, A. M., halted at 12, M., 
near Clover Hill; distance marched, ten miles. At 5, P. M., Major- 
General Meade rode along the lines and said that "Lee had sur- 
rendered his whole army." The scene beggars all description. 
The troops simply went wild with joy, the nervous strain during 
the past ten days had become almost unendurable, but now that it 
was about to relax, and the men were to have a much needed rest, 
it was indeed welcome. Both armies now mingled together, and 
while the Union troops were more than glad that no more blood 
was to be shed, the Confederates were of the same mind, only they 
being the conquered foe, it made a difference. As one young Reb. 
said: "I'm glad the War is over, but darned sorry you whipped 
us." Bivouacked at Clover Hill until the morning of April 11th, 
then marched for Bui'kesville, arriving the evening of April 13th; 
distance marched, forty-eight miles. On the 16th the sad news of 
President Abraham Lincoln's assassination reached us and on the 
26th an order was read from President .Johnson, officially announc- 
ing that the day would be observed throughout the Army as a day 
of mourning. Half hour guns were fired from sunrise to sunset; 
all colors were draped in mourning. Remained in camp until May 
2d, then marched with the corps for Manchester, Va., arriving at 
11, A. M., May 5th; distance marched, fifty-eight miles. May 6th. 
crossed the James River, and marched through Richmond; bivou- 
acked for the night three miles from the city. May 7th, the corps 

58 



marched tor Washington, D. C, via Fredericksburg. Arrived at 
Baileys Cross Roads, and went into camp May 15th, just one year 
from the day the regiment left the fortifications of Washington to 
join the Army of the Potomac. May 23d, left camp at 7, A. M., 
marched to Washington and took part in the grand Review of the 
Army of the Potomac. Remained in camp until June 15th, when 
orders were received for the regiment to be reported to Major- 
General Hancock for duty in the fortifications of Washington; re- 
ported in accordance with said order, and were assigned to duty 
at Forts Ethan Allen and Macy, near Chain Bridge. 

June 27th, moved to Forts C. F. Smith and Strong. 

July 19th. orders were received from the War Department to 
consolidate the remaining veterans and recruits into four com- 
panies, and consolidate with the 3d Massachusetts Heavy Artillery; 
which, for said purpose, was formed into eight companies; the 
consolidated force still bearing the name of the 1st Massachusetts 
Heavy Artillery. Aug. 11th, Orders were received from the Adju- 
tant-General's office for the command to be at once mustered out 
of the United States service and to report to the mustering officer 
of Massachusetts for final payment. The regiment left Washing- 
ton on the evening of 17th of August, and arrived in Boston on 
Sunday, the 20th. Were then ordered to Gallop's Island, where it 
received its final discharge on the 25th, having been in the United 
States' service four years, one month and twenty-one days. 

The Regiment participated in the following general engage- 
ments: Winchester, Spottsylvania, North Anna River, Tolopotomy, 
Cold Harbor, Assaults and siege of Petersburg, June 16th, 17th, 
ISth, and 22d, 1864. and April 2d, 1865, Strawberry Plains, Deep 
Bottom, Poplar Grove Church, Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher's Run, 
Vaughn Road, Jettersville, Farmville. Saler's Creek, Surrender of 
Lee at Appomattox Court House. 

Losses sustained by the Regiment in the Wilderness Campaign 
and assaults on Petersburg: 

COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. 

Killed. Wounded. Prisoners. 
Field Oflicers. 1 3 

Line Officers, 4 26 6 

Totals, :> 29 6 40 

ENLISTED MEN. 







Killed. 


W 


ounded. 


Prisoners. 


By Companies. 


Co. 


A. 


8 




40 


7 


55 




B. 


11 




63 


18 


92 




C. 


5 




67 


13 


85 




D. 


5 




35 


5 


45 




E. 


5 




37 


33 


75 




F. 


7 




36 


34 


77 




G. 


7 




36 


26 


69 



59 





Enlisted 


Men- 


-conti 


uiied. 










Killed. 


Wounded. 


I'lisoners. 


By 


C 


ompauies. 


H. 


9 




54 




2 






65 


I. 


4 




35 




45 






84 


K. 


15 




56 




11 






82 


L. 


7 




39 




9 






55 


M. 


8 




43 




30 






81 



91 541 233 865 

Aggregate, 905. 

During .July and August there was one enlisted man killed and 
ten wounded. 

Colonel Fox in his book, entitled "Regimental Losses in Civil 
War," credits the First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery as one of 
the Three Hundred fighting Regiments, also that of the two thous- 
and or more Regiments in the Union Army, there were only four- 
teen whose total loss in battle exceeded that of the First Massa- 
chusetts Heavy Artillery." Colonel Fox gives our actual loss by 
death in battle and otherwise, during the entire term of service 
to have been as follows: 

Officers killed and mortally wounded 9 

Enlisted men, killed and mortally wounded 232 

Com. officers, died in prison and by accident 2 

Enlisted men, died in prison and by accident and disease . . . 241 

Total 484 

Our entire loss during the four years was as follows: 
Killed and wounded, 723; missing or captured, 261; making 
984 in all. Deaths in Confederate Prisons, 102, which is included 
in the above figures. Above also includes a slight loss at Manassas. 

SOME INTERESTING FACTS. 
Company B had ten enlisted men killed at Spottsylvania, K 
nine and H seven- 
Company C had forty-four wounded, B forty-three, K thirty- 
seven, H thirty-two, Jj twenty-four, D twenty, M twenty and A 
nineteen. Company F's loss was noticeably light in this engage- 
ment. On the 16th of June at Petersburg, however, its ranks were 
decimated by the loss of six enlisted men killed, twenty-three 
wounded. Five companies on the 22d of June lost very heavy in 
prisoners; — I forty-two, E thirty-two, F twenty-nine, M twenty- 
eight and G twenty-two; the left wing of the Regiment was en- 
tirely enveloped, which accounts for the great loss by these com- 
panies who constituted it. 

Many of our Comrades are buried in the National Cemeteries 
at Poplar Grove Church and at Fredericksburg. Major Rolfe's 
grave is at the latter, marked by a simple granite Government 
headstone with his name chiseled thereon. 

There are between forty and fifty known graves at Arlington 
Heights. 

60 



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